(KTLA) – If you receive a text message stating that you qualify for a $1,400 check from the IRS, do not click on any links. The Better Business Bureau warns that this is a scam.
Fraudsters are impersonating the IRS in an attempt to deceive taxpayers into divulging personal information.
The fraudulent text will appear to originate from the IRS and will claim that you are eligible for a $1,400 Economic Impact Payment, requesting you to provide your personal details to obtain the funds.
“This IRS text is a phishing scam. The message includes a deceptive link that resembles an official IRS site. Clicking on it could lead to malware or a fake form requesting personal or financial information. The IRS will not initiate contact with taxpayers through text, email, or social media, and will never ask for information in this manner,” the BBB stated.
The scam messages are based on recent announcements from the tax agency. In late December, the IRS indicated it was distributing $2.4 billion in total to 1 million individuals to assist those who did not receive their complete federal stimulus checks throughout the pandemic.
These payments, with a maximum of $1,400 per recipient, were automatically dispatched to qualified taxpayers who filed a return but did not claim the Recovery Rebate Credit.
To protect yourself from this scam, officials suggest the following actions:
- Verify communications: Authentic IRS notices are delivered through traditional postal mail, not via text or email.
- Avoid clicking on links: Never open links in unsolicited messages. Instead, access information directly through IRS.gov.
- Be wary of urgency: Scammers often create a false sense of urgency to provoke quick action. Take time to independently verify such claims.
- Report the scam: Forward suspicious messages to phishing@irs.gov and report them at BBB.org/ScamTracker.
