Watch for bogus refund letters from the ‘IRS’

Zach Myers
·2 min read

(WTTV/WXIN) — Tax season always brings out sneaky scammers who are good at impersonating the Internal Revenue Service, and the crooks are at it again.

The Federal Trade Commission is warning about a bogus “letter” going around that looks as realistic as you can get. It appears to be from the IRS, Department of Treasury.

The message makes it seem like you overpaid your taxes by $10,000 and the agency applied that to taxes you still owe from other years. As a result, the message says you’re getting a $650 refund.

However, the message also includes a link you must click on to get the ball rolling. But be warned; there’s no money there. It’s just a malicious link designed to steal your money, or information, or install malware on your device.

If you examine the “letter” closely, you’ll see little typos that give it away as a fraud. However, the biggest red flag is that the IRS is supposedly emailing or texting you about a refund. That doesn’t happen.

“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, said Larissa Bungo, Federal Trade Commission Senior Attorney. “Only scammers will.”

If you get this email or text, the FTC recommends these tips:

  • 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.

If you clicked on a link in one of these messages, or you shared personal or financial information, report it at IdentityTheft.gov to get a free, customized recovery plan.

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