Thieves use email, telephone, and social media for various online scams. They also send fake text messages, known as “smishing.” Taxpayers need to remember that the IRS will not contact them by text messaging or social media to ask for personal or financial information.

The IRS will also not initiate contact by phone or email. If they need to contact you, they will usually first send a letter in the mail through the U.S. Postal Service. Like phishing scams, which are scams sent by email, smishing scams will appear to be from trusted companies, government agencies, and charities. Cyber criminals pose as the IRS and Treasury Department in smishing scams that attempt to collect personal and financial information from taxpayers. These text messages will often use fake URLS and fake website names. Do not open them! They could lead you to a website that can be used to steal your personal information, or even load malware onto your device. If the text message includes a phone number to call back, DO NOT do so!

Always be wary of any unsolicited text, whether it says it’s from the IRS or from an organization offering government aid. Always verify contact, content, and context with the actual government agency on their actual government website.

Taxpayers should report fake IRS, Treasury, and tax-related text messages to phishing@irs.gov. For more information on how to identify the scams and protect yourself, visit IRS.gov/phishing.