Podcast Center
Video Center
Webcasts
Resource Center
Events
By 
November 04, 2020 at 04:13 PM
(Photo: Shutterstock)
The Internal Revenue Service, state tax agencies and the tax industry issued a joint warning Wednesday about a new text scam that tricks people into disclosing bank account information under the guise of receiving their $1,200 Economic Impact Payment.
Related: IRS Extends Deadline to Register for Stimulus Payment
In their joint capacity as “the Security Summit,” the agencies remind taxpayers that neither the IRS nor state agencies will ever text taxpayers asking for bank account information so that an EIP deposit may be made.
The scam text message states: “You have received a direct deposit of $1,200 from COVID-19 TREAS FUND. Further action is required to accept this payment into your account. Continue here to accept this payment …”
The text includes a link to a fake phishing web address.
The fake phishing URL, which appears to come from a state agency or relief organization, takes recipients to a fraudulent website that impersonates the IRS.gov Get My Payment website.
“Individuals who visit the fraudulent website and then enter their personal and financial account information will have their information collected by these scammers,” the warning states.
