The IRS is alerting taxpayers about a texting scam making the rounds asking for sensitive information. The scam has taxpayers thinking it's to get an Economic Impact Payment, but the scam steals personal data.
The scammers are counting on the IRS's recent announcement to issue automatic payments to eligible people who didn't claim the Recovery Rebate Credit (also known as an Economic Impact Payment) on their 2021 tax returns. The IRS is telling the public that no action is needed by eligible taxpayers to receive these payments. Payments will go out automatically and taxpayers should receive them by the end of the month, which will be automatically direct deposited or sent by paper check.
Here are some guidelines on how to spot a scam:
- The IRS will NOT request personal or financial information from text.
- Federal government website addresses end in ".gov". Scammers will often use similar or official sounding websites, but it has another domain extension like ".com".
About Business Consumer Alliance
Business Consumer Alliance (BCA) is a non-profit company that started in 1928. The broad purpose of BCA is to promote business self-regulation. BCA's mission is achieved by assisting consumers in resolving complaints with businesses and using that complaint information, along with other relevant information such as customer reviews, to forecast business reliability. With community support, BCA can identify trustworthy and ethical businesses and warn the public to avoid unscrupulous businesses whose purpose is to defraud the marketplace. BCA also helps businesses promote themselves by providing services and tools to protect their business and reach out to their customers. BCA obtains its funding from member businesses who support the mission and purpose of the organization and who agree to abide by high standards of ethical business practices.