CA: Beware of COVID-19 Texting Scam

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody is warning taxpayers of a new COVID-19 related text scam that deceives recipients into disclosing personal banking information in order to receive a $1,200 stimulus check. This latest scam impersonates the Internal Revenue Service. The Attorney General’s Office reminds taxpayers that the federal government and state agencies will never require personal banking information to be disclosed via text message to receive stimulus payments.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “As long as COVID-19 remains a threat, scammers will attempt every trick in the book to exploit taxpayers and coerce them into disclosing personal information. I encourage all Floridians to familiarize themselves with emerging COVID-19 scams, available on our COVID-19 resource webpage at MyFloridaLegal.com/COVID19."

The scam text message states the recipient received a $1,200 direct deposit from COVID-19 TREAS FUND and requires further action for the payment to be deposited into the account. The text then directs the recipient to follow a fake phishing link.

The bogus phishing URL appears to be a state agency or relief organization’s website. However, when clicked, the URL directs recipients to a website fraudulently impersonating the IRS. Scammers use the website with the goal of collecting the personal and financial information of individuals who visit the fraudulent site.

Those who receive this text should immediately report it to the IRS by sending a screenshot of the message to Phishing@IRS.gov with the following information:

• Date, time and time zone the text message was received;
• The 10-digit phone number that sent the text; and
• The recipient’s mobile phone number.

The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division reminds taxpayers that the IRS will never send unsolicited texts or emails requesting personal information, call with threats of jail, lawsuits or demand tax payments on gift cards. If you receive any correspondence you believe to be fraudulent, report it to the Attorney General’s Office by visiting MyFloridaLegal.com, calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM or downloading the No Scam app, available in English and Spanish, on all Apple and Android devices.

If you believe you are eligible for the Economic Impact Payment, please visit IRS.gov. If you do not have a filing requirement but are eligible for EIP, use the non-filers tool on the IRS website before Nov. 21 to claim the payment.

Earlier this year, the Attorney General’s Office created the Scams at a Glance program, designed as a resource for Floridians to use for protection against fraud as the state and nation continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. The Scams at a Glance website provides downloadable brochures designed to teach consumers how to avoid falling victim to fraud, including an IRS Imposter Scams brochure.

To read Scams at a Glance: IRS Imposters in English, click here.

To read Scams at a Glance: IRS Imposters in Spanish, click here.