(KTLA) – If you receive a text message that states you are due a $1,400 IRS check, avoid clicking any attached links. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) warns that this is a fraudulent scheme.
Scammers are masquerading as the IRS in an attempt to deceive taxpayers into providing their personal information.
The deceitful message appears to originate from the IRS, claiming you qualify for a $1,400 Economic Impact Payment and urges you to submit 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 this link can expose you to malware or a fake form requesting personal or financial information. The IRS does not reach out to taxpayers via text, email, or social media, and they will never ask for information in this manner,” stated the BBB.
These scam messages are likely inspired by recent announcements from the tax agency. In late December, the IRS disclosed that it was distributing $2.4 billion to 1 million individuals to compensate those who did not receive all of their pandemic stimulus payments.
These payments, capped at $1,400 per individual, were automatically disbursed to eligible taxpayers who filed a return but had not claimed the Recovery Rebate Credit.
To protect yourself from this scam, officials suggest the following steps:
- Verify any communication: Authentic IRS notifications will be sent via postal mail, not through text messages or emails.
- Refrain from clicking on links: Avoid clicking links contained in unsolicited messages. Instead, directly access IRS.gov for accurate information.
- Exercise caution regarding urgency: Scammers often create an urgent atmosphere to prompt quick reactions. Take extra time to independently confirm such claims.
- Report the scam: Send forwarded suspicious messages to phishing@irs.gov and report them at BBB.org/ScamTracker.
