The IRS wants taxpayers to know of a scam involving texts & Economic Income Payments:
People get a text message saying they have “received a direct deposit of $1,200 from COVID-19 TREAS FUND. Further action is required to accept this payment… Continue here to accept this payment …” The text includes a link to a phishing web address.
This fake link appears to come from a state agency or relief organization. It takes people to a fake website that looks like the IRS.gov Get My Payment website. If people visit the fake website and enter their personal and financial account information, the scammers collect it.
Here’s what people should do if they receive this message
Anyone who receives this scam text should take a screenshot and include the screenshot in an email to phishing@irs.gov with the following information:
- Date/time/time zone that they received the text message
- The phone number that received the text message
The IRS doesn’t send unsolicited texts or emails. The agency will never demand immediate payment using a gift card, prepaid debit card or wire transfer or threaten to have a taxpayer arrested.
Additional Tips from the IRS :
- Use strong, unique passwords for all online accounts, such as phrases which are harder to crack.
- Use multi-factor authentication, if offered, on accounts at all times.
- Beware of websites that begin with “http.” For financial or sensitive information, ensure websites begin with “https.” The “s” means it’s a secure connection.
- Don’t use public wifi when shopping or making purchases.
- Use a secure wifi password to access your home wifi.
- Make sure you are using security software on your computer and mobile phone and that you are keeping it up to date.