American taxpayers are being alerted to a new text scam where scammers impersonating the IRS claim individuals qualify for $1,400 stimulus checks.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) stated that these text messages, which often seem legitimate, are part of a phishing attempt aimed at gathering sensitive personal information.
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“The message includes a fraudulent link that resembles an official IRS website,” the BBB explained in a statement. “Clicking the link may result in malware installation or direct users to a counterfeit form requesting personal or financial details. The IRS does not reach out to taxpayers via text, email, or social media and will never solicit information in this manner.”
To prevent becoming a victim of this scam, individuals are advised to refrain from clicking links in unsolicited messages and to remain vigilant against communications that create a sense of urgency. The BBB also encourages everyone to report suspicious messages to phishing@irs.gov and to use the BBB Scam Tracker, available here.
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The genuine IRS announced in December that it would automatically send $1,400 payments to one million taxpayers who did not claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax returns. This credit pertains to individuals who either missed one of the COVID-19 stimulus payments or received less than the full amounts.
In contrast to texting individuals, the IRS stated that these payments would be directly deposited into bank accounts or mailed as paper checks.
