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The Internal Revenue Service, state tax agencies and the tax industry issued a joint warning Wednesday about a new text scam that tricks people into disclosing bank account information under the guise of receiving their $1,200 Economic Impact Payment.
In their joint capacity as "the Security Summit," the agencies remind taxpayers that neither the IRS nor state agencies will ever text taxpayers asking for bank account information so that an EIP deposit may be made.
The scam text message states: "You have received a direct deposit of $1,200 from COVID-19 TREAS FUND. Further action is required to accept this payment into your account. Continue here to accept this payment …"
The text includes a link to a fake phishing web address.
The fake phishing URL, which appears to come from a state agency or relief organization, takes recipients to a fraudulent website that impersonates the IRS.gov Get My Payment website.
