IRS Warns Taxpayers to Remain Vigilant as Texting Scams Continue to be on the Rise

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Security Summit partners in state and national tax communities continue to remind US taxpayers and tax professionals to be vigilant in not falling for IRS-themed phishing scams and schemes aimed at stealing sensitive information. 

“This is phishing on an industrial scale so thousands of people can be at risk of receiving these scam messages,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “In recent months, the IRS has reported multiple large-scale smishing campaigns that have delivered thousands – and even hundreds of thousands – of IRS-themed messages in hours or a few days, far exceeding previous levels of activity.” 

The IRS has taken numerous steps to warn people of this ongoing threat, including posting a video about how to avoid IRS text message scams. The IRS does not ever send e-mails or text messages asking for personal and financial information or account numbers. Unexpected fake COVID relief offers, tax credit messages, or assistance setting up IRS online account offers from the IRS should be viewed as red flags for taxpayers. 

“Particularly in these cases, the best offense is a good defense,” said Rettig. “Taxpayers and tax pros need to remain constantly vigilant with suspicious IRS-related emails and text messages. And if you get one, sending the IRS key details from the text can help us disrupt the scams and protect others.” 

Reporting smishing scams to the IRS instructions follow: 

  • Create a new email to phishing@irs.gov.
  • Copy the caller ID number (or email address).
  • Paste the number (or email address) into the email.
  • Press and hold the SMS/text message and select “copy.”
  • Paste the message into the email.
  • If possible, include the exact date, time, time zone and telephone number that received the message.
  • Send the email to phishing@irs.gov.

Additionally, taxpayers can report scams to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration using their IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting form and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) through their Complaint Assistant to make the information available to investigators.

All incidents, successful and attempted, should also be reported to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.

Victims of tax-related scams can find additional resources at Identity Theft Central on IRS.gov.

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