FCC Offers Tips to Protect Against IRS-Themed Scams

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The IRS is warning taxpayers that IRS-themed smishing and phishing scams have increased exponentially this year. MMS, SMS, and text with topics related to unpaid tax debts, bank account issues, and enforcement actions are used to redirect you to phishing landing pages designed to collect your personal information. The collected information can then be used for fraudulent purposes.

To help protect yourself against this type of scheme, follow these recommendations from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC):

  • Do not respond to texts from unknown numbers, email addresses, or texts that appear suspicious.
  • Never share sensitive personal or financial information by text.
  • Be on the lookout for misspellings or odd phrasings.
  • Think twice before clicking any links in a text message. If a friend sends you a text with a suspicious link that seems out of character, call them to ensure they weren’t hacked.
  • If a business sends you a text you weren’t expecting, double check their number. Look it up online before calling them back.
  • Remember that government agencies almost never initiate contact by phone or text.

For more information, read the full article by Sergiu Gatlan from Bleeping Computer.