Tax Refund Fraud & “Where’s My Money?” Scams

⭐💸 TAX REFUND FRAUD & “WHERE’S MY MONEY?” SCAMS

After tax season, many people are waiting on refunds - and scammers take advantage of that. You may receive texts, emails, or calls claiming there’s an issue with your refund or that you need to “verify” information to release your money. These messages are designed to steal your personal and financial information.

💬 COMMON STORIES SCAMMERS USE:

• “There’s a problem with your refund — click here to fix it.”

• “Your refund is on hold until you verify your information.”

• “You’re eligible for an additional tax credit or stimulus.”

• Messages pretending to be from the IRS or state tax agencies.

🚨 WARNING SIGNS:

• Unexpected messages about your refund status.

• Links that don’t lead to irs.gov or your state’s official website.

• Requests for personal, banking, or login information.

• Urgent language demanding immediate action.

🛡️ PROTECT YOURSELF:

• Check your refund status only through irs.gov or official state websites.

• Do not click links in unexpected texts or emails.

• Never share personal or financial information through a message.

• Contact your bank if you believe your information was compromised.

🧰 HELPFUL RESOURCES:

• IRS: Where’s My Refund Tool

• FTC: ReportFraud.ftc.gov

• IRS: Tax scams

• FTC: That text or email about your “tax refund” is a scam

📍 IF YOU THINK YOU’RE BEING TARGETED:

1. Do not respond or click any links.

2. Delete the message immediately.

3. Report the scam to the FTC.

4. Contact your bank if you shared any information.