January 17, 2024 - Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department officials report that with tax season right around the corner, scammers will pose as government agencies like the IRS and send text messages claiming you are eligible for a tax refund. The message often includes enticing phrases like “You are owed a tax refund” or “Claim your refund now” and more times than not, you will find spelling errors in the message. To proceed, you are typically instructed to click on a link, reply to the message or call a specific number.
Once you engage, scammers may request personal information, such as Social Security numbers, bank account details, or credit card information, to verifying your identity for the refund process. Sometimes, they might demand a processing fee upfront before the supposed refund can be released.
It’s important to remember that government agencies would never request sensitive information or fees through unsolicited text messages. To stay safe, avoid clicking on links, sharing personal information, or making any payments in response to such messages.
Source: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
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