(KTLA) – If you receive a text message stating that you’ll get a $1,400 check from the IRS, do not click any links. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has flagged it as a scam.
Fraudsters are impersonating the IRS in an attempt to deceive individuals into providing their personal information.
The message may claim to come from the IRS, indicating that you are eligible for a $1,400 Economic Impact Payment and ask you to submit your personal details to receive it.
“This IRS text is a phishing scam. The message contains a fraudulent link that resembles an official IRS website. Clicking it can lead to malware or a scam form requesting your personal or financial details. The IRS does not communicate with taxpayers through text, email, or social media and will never ask for your information this way,” the BBB stated.
The scam texts are reportedly fueled by recent announcements from the IRS. In late December, the agency revealed it would distribute $2.4 billion to 1 million individuals to compensate for those who had not received their full federal stimulus payments during the pandemic.
These payments, up to $1,400 per eligible individual, were automatically dispatched to taxpayers who filed their returns but did not claim the Recovery Rebate Credit.
To protect yourself from this scam, officials suggest the following measures:
- Verify communications: Authentic IRS notifications are sent via postal mail, not through text messages or emails.
- Avoid clicking links: Never click on links in unsolicited texts. Instead, visit IRS.gov directly for accurate information.
- Be cautious about urgency: Scammers often create a sense of urgency to prompt hasty actions. Take your time to assess claims independently.
- Report the scam: Forward any suspicious texts to [email protected] and report them via BBB.org/ScamTracker.
