Fake Tax Refunds: A New Twist on Tax-Related ID Theft

Scammers can use your personal information, like your Social Security number, to commit identity theft and steal your tax refund. But now, they are also impersonating the IRS itself and sending emails and texts about your “tax refund” or “tax refund e-statement.” It might look legit, but these messages come from a scammer trying to trick you to click on dangerous links. They want to steal your identity or put malware on your phone or computer. These fraudulent messages commonly ask you to fill out an official-looking form before you can receive your refund – and this is how they get the personal identifying information they need.

If someone contacts you unexpectedly about a tax refund, the most important thing to know is that the real IRS won’t contact you by email, text message, or social media to get your personal or financial information. Only scammers will.

If someone does reach out, here’s what to do:

· Never click on any links, which can put malware on your computer or phone, letting scammers steal from you.

· Check the status of any pending refund on the IRS official website. Visit Where’s My Refund to see if you’re really getting a refund.

· Share what you know. By telling your friends and family members about the scam, you can help protect your community.

Click below to listen to Michelle Reinen from the Wisconsin Department of Ag, Trade, and Consumer Protection discuss this and other topics.