Recently many people have received text messages seemingly from the IRS about a $1,400 payment and wonder if they are legitimate. The short answer is that the IRS payments are real, but the texts are nothing but a SCAM. Sounds tricky? Keep reading to check out the context for the Economic Impact Payment and tips on how to spot the scam!

Is the IRS $1,400 payment real?

Yes, it is.

At the end of 2024, the IRS announced plan to send out payments of up to $1,400 for individuals who did not previously receive Economic Impact Payments (AKA COVID-19 stimulus payments).

According to the IRS, most of the payments should be completed by late January 2025. Those who qualify for the payment don’t need to take any action to receive the money.

“No action is needed for eligible taxpayers to receive these payments, which will go out automatically in December and should arrive in most cases by late January 2025. The payments will be automatically direct deposited or sent by paper check; eligible taxpayers will also receive a separate letter notifying them of the payment.”

IRS Economic Impact Payment scam texts

However, while citizens hope for the money, scammers are spreading scam text messages impersonating the IRS in to trick you:

Posing as IRS, scammers say that you are eligible for the $1,400 Economic Impact Payment and instruct you to claim it by providing personal information via the attached link:

Content of an IRS Economic Impact Payment scam text

• Internal Revenue Service (IRS) You are eligible to receive a$1,400 Economic Impact Payment. Please provide youraccurate personal information. We will deposit the amount into your bank account or mail a paper check within 1 to 2business days.<URL> (Please reply with “y,” then exit the text message. Open it again, click the link, or copy it into yourSafari browser and open it.)

Don’t click on any links. It’s a scam! The link will take you to a fake IRS website where you could reveal your personal information, such as your home address, date of birth, and Individual Tax ID Number (ITIN). With these credentials, scammers can commit identity theft. For example, they can file a bogus tax return on your behalf and deposit the refund into THEIR account. Be careful!

IRS scams: red flags

Remember, the IRS wil never:

• Initiate contact with you by email, text, or social media to request personal or financial information.
• Send text messages offering things like tax relief, tax credits, or help setting up an online account.
• Threaten taxpayers with urgent or menacing messages nor demand immediate payment by gift card.

How to protect yourself from IRS scams

• Don’t click on links or buttons from unknown sources. Instead, you should visit the IRS official website to check if you qualify for the program.
• Always double-check the URL and ensure the web address matches the legitimate IRS URL – it should be irs.gov.
• When you are not sure if something you receive is a scam, verify its legitimacy before you take any action! Try Trend Micro ScamCheck!
  
  Copy-paste the content of a suspicious text or simply share a screenshot of it with Trend Micro ScamCheck for instant answers about whether it’s a scam or not.
  
  Here’s what ScamCheck thinks of the IRS Economic Impact Payment text:

Our AI-powered Scam Check feature goes beyond spotting common red flags and scam URLs; it dives deeper into the content to uncover those tricky, less obvious signs of scams.

This is a dangerous phishing scam pretending to be from the IRS. The message asks for personal information and provides a suspicious link. Never click on such links or provide personal information through text messages. The IRS will never contact you this way. Be very careful with such messages and always verify through official channels.

ScamCheck: your all-in-one defense against scams

Available for both Android and iOS, ScamCheck offers comprehensive protection from deceptive phishing scams, scam and spam text messages, deepfakes, and more:

• Scam Check: Instantly analyze emails, texts, URLs, screenshots, and phone numbers with our AI-powered scam detection technology. Stay secure and scam-free.
• SMS Filter & Call Block: Say goodbye to unwanted spam and scam calls and messages. Minimize daily disruptions and reinforce your defenses against phishing.
• Deepfake Scan: Detect deepfakes in real-time during video calls, alerting you if anyone is using AI face-swapping technology to alter their appearance.
• Web Guard: Surf the web safely, protected from malicious websites and annoying ads.

To download Trend Micro ScamCheck or to learn more, click the button below.

If you’ve found this article an interesting or helpful read, please SHARE it with friends and family to help keep the online community secure and protected. Also, please consider clicking the LIKE button or leaving a comment below.