Scammers are trying to get a jump on tax season.
They know that between now and the middle of April, most of us will have taxes on the brain.
Viewers are reaching out to the News 8 On Your Side team about a message that appears to be coming from the IRS. It indicates the recipient is eligible to receive a $1,400 Economic Impact Payment.
Here’s what the fake text says (see a screenshot in the video player above):
“Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
“You are eligible to receive a $1,400 Economic Impact Payment. Please provide your accurate personal information. We will deposit the amount into your bank account or mail a paper check within 1 to 2 business days.
“https://irs.gov/instructions-tax.com
“(Please reply with “Y;” then exit the text message. Open it again, click the link, or copy it into your Safari browser and open it.)”
While anyone would love to get money from the government, this is a scam.
The IRS doesn’t text people without their permission.
Also, the message comes from a free Hotmail address and not a secure government email.
The text includes a link, and clicking on a suspicious link is always a bad idea.
The IRS will only text or email you with prior permission. The agency may call you to set up a meeting, but you won’t be asked for your personal information because the IRS already has it.
Between now and April, you can expect a lot of scam messages appearing to be from the IRS. These messages may promise you money or even threaten you. Keep your guard up and keep your money in your pocket.
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