Scammers are targeting your tax refund right now—and they’re getting more sophisticated every day. With the final October 15 tax deadline approaching, criminals have found the perfect opportunity to try and take advantage of those who are still awaiting a refund. In fact, officials in numerous states—from California to Tennessee—are warning residents to be aware of suspicious messages popping up on their phones. Keep reading to learn more about the refund scam text and how to avoid compromising your information.
What is the tax refund scam?
This new phishing scam focuses on something most Americans eagerly await every year: a tax refund. Scammers are sending out text messages to unsuspecting people, pretending to be with a state’s department of taxation or revenue.
In the text, the alleged department will inform the recipient that their refund request has been processed. However, there’s a catch: The message also states that the money is pending release and you won’t receive it until you take the next steps.
The bad actors are hoping people eagerly engage with the message to avoid losing their refund, but in reality the scammers are just trying to steal personal and financial information.
How does the refund scam work?
In the phishing message, the scammer tells the recipient to click on the provided link in order to confirm their bank account details. (This is, allegedly, to make direct deposit for the refund possible.) The link takes you to a website that appears nearly identical to your respective state’s web page so you won’t be able to tell the difference.
“Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, even going as far as to copy our logos and create fake websites that look official,” Ohio Tax Commissioner Patricia Harris told WFMJ.com.
Once you fill out the requested information on the phony website, the scammers can use it for their own financial gain.
In order to convince people who may be skeptical about the message’s legitimacy, the text also implies there’s a limited amount of time to complete this step or access to the money will be lost.
“Failure to submit required payment information by September 16, 2025 will permanently disqualify you from receiving this refund,” reads a message shared by Fox28.com. This creates a sense of urgency so people don’t realize they’re being scammed until after they’ve given away the sensitive information.
What to do if you get the phishing text
If you receive one of these refund scam texts, officials say you should avoid responding or engaging in any way, including clicking on the provided link. Instead, delete it from your inbox. (Have questions about the legitimacy of the message? Contact your state’s tax department directly.)
For anyone who accessed the link and provided personal information, you should immediately:
- Contact local law enforcement
- Let the credit reporting agency know you’ve been compromised
- Alert your bank
- Report it to the FBI 24/7 at (215) 418-4000 or tips.fbi.gov
- Contact the federal Internet Crime Complaint Center
How to avoid becoming a victim of the refund scam
One of the easiest ways to protect yourself is to know what to look for with this scam. For example, most agencies ensure they will not contact someone via text about taxes or a refund. They will also not ask a person to confirm any kind of information via a link provided in a text message.
Another red flag? The message will be sent by an unknown person. Though the text may claim to be from a tax department, the actual telephone number used to send it will not be official.
Finally, keep an eye out for grammatical errors. This can be in the message itself or in any URLs and it’s a clear sign of a scam.
Other tax-related scams you should watch for
Promises about a refund aren’t the only fake messages that may be floating around. Residents of Florida and New Jersey, for example, have been seeing rumors circulating that they will receive a fourth stimulus check ranging anywhere from $1,300 to $2,000.
Multiple reports, however, state that these claims are false. Neither Congress nor the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has confirmed another payment is on the way to Americans. If you receive a text regarding a possible stimulus check, it’s likely a scammer hoping to dupe you into giving away information.
When in doubt about the status of your tax refund or a stimulus check, reach out to official channels instead of providing information via an unknown link. This will ensure you and your finances stay safe!
