IRS ‘Text Scams’ on the rise: Financial experts share the red flags you need to know
As struggling taxpayers look for ways to manage and relieve our debt, financial professionals are warning Americans of debt relief scams- specifically through phishing text messages.
Tax Relief Professionals at “Ideal Tax” say:
“There are many scams out there that take advantage of unknowing people who are stressed about their tax issues, such as their credit card debt, trouble with mortgages, student loans, or filing for bankruptcy.
“However, now instead of contacting you about a tax debt and making threats to get you to pay up, scammers are sending text messages about a ‘tax rebate’ or another tax refund or benefit.”
“Whilst the text messages may look legit and mention a “tax rebate” or “refund payment”, it is important to be aware that no matter what the text says, it is very likely to be scammer phishing for your information.
“If you do then click on the link to claim ‘your refund’, you are putting yourself at risk of having personal information stolen, or even having malware installed onto your phone by the scammer.”
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U.S. Google searches continue to surge for “IRS Text Scam”, most recently by 809% over the last 48 hours.
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Below, the experts at “Ideal Tax” share their top tips on spotting and avoiding an IRS text scam:
1. Never click on any links in text messages from the IRS
- It is important to generally never share any personal information with an ‘organization’ who contacts you unexpectedly.
- Legitimate contact will most often always be through an official letter through regular mail delivered by the United States Postal Service.
- If you are unsure of the legitimacy of the letter, call the IRS directly at 800-829-1040.
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2. The IRS will never call, text or email for the first time
- To contact you for the first time, the IRS will almost never send a text message or email.
- They always start by sending you an official letter.
However, there are circumstances where the IRS will call or come to a home or business. This is normally when a taxpayer has an overdue tax bill, an unfiled tax return or has not made an employment tax deposit.
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3. Always check the status of any pending refund on the official website
- If you are in the process of receiving a tax refund from the IRS, you can check its status on the official IRS website.
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4. Always report any unexpected text or emails from the IRS
- Texts or emails claiming to be the IRS that raise any of the above red flags should be reported. You can send a screenshot or an email to phishing@irs.gov as an attachment.
The IRS is shining a light on the big scams for the latest tax year. You might be familiar with some of them, but the IRS reports that many Americans are still falling for them. See the video below for more info.
(Source: Ideal Tax) / (Cover Clip Art, Image credit: Twitter)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Follow Richard on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
