IRS Warning: Beware of Sinister Scam Targeting Tax Refunds as Deadline Approaches

There is a nefarious tax refund scam targeting Americans. According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the fraud scheme is targeting a growing number of individuals as the deadline for claiming 2019 tax refunds approaches.

Scammers Aim to Steal Your Information for Identity Theft

Tax refund scams are not new in the US, but the fraudsters behind them are becoming more audacious and inventive, as warned by the IRS.

Victims of this scam receive a letter through the mail, tricking them into believing that they are entitled to an IRS rebate. Consequently, they provide their personal information, including a photo of their driver’s license, as reported by The Daily Mail.

The IRS highlights that the information obtained by the scammers can be used for identity theft. The fraudulent letter features an IRS masthead and a fake IRS contact number.

The scammers aim to acquire the victims’ Social Security Number, bank routing data, bank account type, and cellphone number.

IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel reveals that this new scam is just the latest instance in which identity thieves pose as the IRS to steal identities and funds, including tax returns.

This scam comes right before the July 17 deadline, by which taxpayers can claim a share of the almost $1.5 billion in unclaimed IRS 2019 tax return funds. The average payout is estimated at $893.

The letter, which comes in a cardboard envelope, is designed to trick people into believing that they are owed a refund, the tax agency said. https://t.co/mn9j2IZAvU

— CBS News (@CBSNews) July 4, 2023

People going hard to try and get you…beware of fake IRS emails. #IRS #ScamAware #scam pic.twitter.com/p1685yBClB

— Crystal L. Ortega, M.Sc (@OnLyGoLdCaNsTaY) July 3, 2023

SCAM ALERT – The IRS says the scam is a letter that says the person has an unclaimed refund and asks for a photo of a driver’s license and your bank routing information. https://t.co/HEwSBBYTI3

— News12WC (@News12WC) July 5, 2023

Red Flags

The IRS warning highlights that fraudsters are using postal mail, emails, and text messages to target individuals.

IRS Chief, Danny Werfel, urges Americans to be vigilant and look out for red flags that might indicate a scam.

These red flags include poor grammar, awkward wording in the fake IRS letters, and incorrect dates for tax return deadlines.

While the IRS uses regular mail to contact taxpayers, it never initiates contact via text, email, or social media messages. Therefore, the agency advises taxpayers to avoid clicking on any suspicious or unsolicited links or messages.

Due to the pandemic, the deadline for claiming 2019 tax returns has been extended to three years. Taxpayers can visit the IRS website to check if they are eligible for a refund.

Watch out for a new delivery service scam that may try to trick you into sending photos and your bank account information to identity thieves. Read more from the #IRS for your #TaxSecurity: https://t.co/4v7NdCMmCI pic.twitter.com/kP5tVc4bxA

— IRSnews (@IRSnews) July 3, 2023