FTC warns taxpayers about IRS impersonation scams by text, email and phone

The Federal Trade Commission issued an advisory warning taxpayers about scams that impersonate the IRS or state tax offices and ask people to provide personal or financial information. The advisory says some scams begin with a text or email claiming your tax refund has been processed or approved and asking you to click a link to verify identity by entering bank account or Social Security numbers.

If you follow the link, the scammers can use that information to claim refunds, sell the data or take over your identity. The FTC notes the IRS and state tax authorities will never contact you by text, email or social media. Other scams start with an unexpected phone call or voicemail claiming you owe back taxes and offering help from agencies with names such as the "Tax Mediation and Resolution Agency" or the "Tax Relief and Review Office." Callers may promise credit checks or liability reduction programs and then request Social Security numbers or other private data that can be used to steal money or identities.

The FTC says the IRS's first contact will always be by mail and advises never to give personal information to unexpected callers. The FTC's guidance is to not respond to suspicious messages, report them and then delete them, forward texts to 7726 (SPAM) and mark emails as spam, and verify refund status via USA.gov.

Key Topics

Tech, Ftc, Irs, Tax Refund Scams, Social Security Number, Usa.gov