Working together as the Security Summit, the IRS, state tax agencies and the tax industry warned of a new text scam created to trick people into disclosing bank account information under the guise of receiving the $1,200 Economic Impact Payment, according to www.irs.gov.
The IRS and state agencies will never text taxpayers asking for bank account information so an Economic Impact Payment deposit can be made.
“Criminals are relentlessly using COVID-19 and Economic Impact Payments as cover to try to trick taxpayers out of their money or identities,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “This scam is a new twist on those we’ve been seeing much of this year. We urge people to remain alert to these types of scams.”
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 URL, which appears to come from a state agency or relief organization and takes recipients to a fraudulent website that impersonates the IRS.gov Get My Payment website. Individuals who visit the fraudulent website and enter their personal and financial account information will have their information collected by these scammers.
View more information about the text scam and what you should do if you receive the text.
