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Although the last round of pandemic stimulus payments was delivered in the spring, scammers are still trying to take advantage of Americans.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigations unit saw a surge of phishing scams this summer, the agency announced this week.
“The number of reported scam attempts reached levels we haven’t seen in more than a decade,” said Chief of IRS Criminal Investigation Jim Lee in a statement. More than ever, it is important for taxpayers to continue to protect their personal information and not fall victim to these scams.”
The surge of scam attempts includes text messages and emails that claim the recipient is eligible for a so-called stimulus payment.
But by clicking on any of the links enclosed in the message, you could be opening yourself up to identity theft. Scammers often try to access your Social Security number, bank info, or credit card details through phishing or smishing (SMS or text message) attempts.
The following text message is an example of one such scam, provided for reference by the IRS:
People targeted by scammers have been posting their messages on social media as well. One Reddit user shared this example in early June.
Scammers Use Pandemic Aid Programs To Phish For Identity Info
Scammers have seized opportunity during the…
