Officials are warning of a recent text message scam that baits people into clicking on a dangerous link and providing personal information in order to receive a $1,400 stimulus check.
The text appears as though it is a message from the IRS informing a person they are eligible for an Economic Impact Payment and can receive it within one to two business days if they input personal information via a link that mimics an IRS website.
The Better Business Bureau, a nonprofit organization that seeks to protect consumers, said it received reports of the scam in January and reminded people that the IRS does not contact taxpayers via text, email or social media.
It warned that clicking on the link may lead to “malware” or “a fraudulent form asking for personal or financial information.”
The scam emerged after the IRS announced, in December, that it would distribute automatic payments to taxpayers who did not claim Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax returns.
But those payments only apply to taxpayers who filed a 2021 tax return but did not claim the credit they were entitled to. Eligible individuals were notified of this by the IRS via mail and those payments do not require action from taxpayers.
The real payments were also sent by the end of January.
Stimulus check scams emerged shortly after the federal government began distributing them in 2020 after the Covid-19 pandemic crashed the economy.
A similar stimulus check scam began floating around in November, shortly after President Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election.
Any person who believes they received the scam message can report it to BBB’s Scam Tracker or to the IRS scam reporting page.
The Better Business Bureau said people can avoid scams by not clicking on any links sent unsoliciatedly and verify all communications before proceeding – scam messages can often appear with a false sense of urgency.
“Genuine IRS notices are sent through postal mail, not text messages or emails,” the Better Business Bureau said.
