Don't Fall For This New IRS Tax Refund Scam

damircudic via Getty Images IRS impersonators could send you a message that claims to have important information about your refund. In late January, the Federal Trade Commission alerted consumers that scammers are now sending emails and texts about a “tax refund” or a “tax refund e-statement.” The scammer email may look legitimate with the real IRS emblem. “I do believe with the growing use of technology and social media, some people are falling for these scams because they believe that many organizations like the IRS are communicating via nontraditional ways,” Washington said. “People should know that the IRS won’t ever send you a text message or email requesting information about your tax refund,” Washington said. “If you receive this type of communication, you shouldn’t click on any links within the message.” As the IRS states clearly on its website, “The IRS never initiates contact with taxpayers by email, text or social media regarding a bill or tax refund.” If this IRS scammer is asking you to pay via a gift card, that’s another red flag, because “the IRS will never ask for payment via gift card,” Sage said.