IRS Warns of New Text Scam Tied to Stimulus Payments
The scam tricks people into disclosing bank account information.
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.
IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig said in a statement that “criminals are relentlessly using COVID-19 and Economic Impact Payments as cover to try to trick taxpayers out of their money or identities,” noting this scam “is a new twist on those we’ve been seeing much of this year.”
Related: COVID-19 Gives Cybercriminals New Ways to Attack
Those receiving the text should take a screen shot of it and then email it to phishing@irs.gov with the following information:
- Date/Time/Timezone that they received the text message
- The number that appeared on their Caller ID
- The number that received the text message
The IRS states that it does not send unsolicited texts or emails and does not call people with threats of jail or lawsuits, nor does it demand tax payments on gift cards.
People who believe they are eligible for the Economic Impact Payment should go directly to IRS.gov.
People who do not have a filing requirement but who are eligible for EIP can use a non-filers tool on IRS.gov until Nov. 21 to claim their payment.
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