Beware the IRS $1,400 Economic Impact Payment Scam Texts

Unsuspecting Americans are being targeted by a fraudulent text message scheme promising $1,400 payments from the IRS. This clever hoax aims to trick victims into handing over sensitive personal and financial information under the false pretense of receiving Economic Impact Payment stimulus aid.

While the promise of easy money provides strong bait, a closer look reveals a calculated scam designed to hook victims based on human psychology and current events.

This viral text message scam has already claimed many victims, but awareness of its deceptive tactics can help prevent further financial harm. Here’s what you need to know about spotting and stopping these frauds in their tracks.

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Overview of the Scam

The scam messages claim that the recipient is eligible to receive a $1,400 Economic Impact Payment which will be deposited into their bank account or sent by check within 1-2 business days. The texts include a link to a fake IRS website that prompts victims to enter sensitive data like their name, home address, phone number, and even credit card information.

This is a complete fabrication, as there are currently no $1,400 stimulus checks being issued by the IRS in 2025. The last round of Economic Impact Payments related to the COVID-19 pandemic were sent out back in 2021.

By purporting to be from a trusted government agency, these phony messages aim to convince recipients to divulge confidential personal and financial details that can then be used for identity theft and fraud.

Anatomy of the Scam Texts

The scam texts typically start off with some variation of the following message:

“Internal Revenue Service (IRS) You are eligible to receive a $1,400 Economic Impact Payment. Please provide your accurate personal information. We will deposit the amount into your bank account or mail a paper check within 1 to 2 business days.”

The texts then include a link to a fraudulent website impersonating the official IRS domain. The scam link may look convincing at first glance, with a URL beginning with “www.irs” or containing terms like “accessible” or “gov” to seem legitimate. However, upon closer inspection, there are usually spelling errors or extra characters revealing it’s not the real IRS site.

For example, one scam text contained this link:

hxxps://www.irs.gov.accessible-us.com

When victims click the link on their phones, it can automatically open the browser and direct them to the scam website. This site has been designed to mimic the look and feel of the authentic IRS webpage.

The site will even feature the IRS logo and images of the American flag to appear more credible. However, scam sites like these are filled with red flags if you know what to look for.

How the Scam Works

Once victims arrive at the phony IRS site, they are prompted to enter personal details for an alleged tax refund or Economic Impact Payment. The information requested often includes:

  • Full name
  • Home address
  • Phone number
  • Social Security number
  • Bank account and routing numbers
  • Credit card information

The scam site claims this data is needed to process and deliver the $1,400 stimulus payment to the victim. Some versions falsely claim the information is required to confirm eligibility or verify identity.

In reality, the criminals behind these sites plan to steal the entered details for identity theft and financial fraud.

Fake Verification Processes

In some cases, the scam IRS websites feature multi-step verification processes to continue deceiving victims about the legitimacy of the site.

For example, after submitting personal information, victims may be taken to another page asking them to confirm their identity by entering a code sent to their phone number. This helps instill trust in the site’s validity.

Of course, the texts containing the verification codes also come from the scammers themselves. The purpose is to collect even more personal data from unsuspecting targets.

Requests for Bank Account Access

Most versions of the scam eventually ask victims to connect their bank account, allegedly to receive the stimulus funds deposit. The fake IRS site may direct users to another portal called the “Economic Impact Payment Funds Transfer Center” or something similar.

This part of the scam website mimics legitimate financial interfaces used by banks and fintech apps. The criminals will ask victims to enter credentials like online banking usernames and passwords to link their account.

Granting such access allows the fraudsters to steal money directly from victims’ accounts.

Credit Card Scam Variations

Some iterations of the $1,400 Economic Impact Payment scam skip the bank account route and simply ask for credit card details.

The fake IRS page requests victims’ card numbers, expiration dates, and CVV codes under the pretense of using the info to process stimulus check deposits.

Of course, the scammers end up making fraudulent purchases and cash withdrawals with the stolen card data instead.

Clever Psychological Manipulation

These IRS text scams deploy clever psychological tricks to manipulate victims into compliance:

  • Appealing to pandemic fears – By mentioning COVID-19 stimulus payments, the texts tap into people’s pandemic-related anxieties over health and finances. This makes the promise of aid seem more credible and urgent.
  • Projecting authority – Masquerading as the IRS makes the texts appear authoritative and official. People are more likely to comply with directions from trusted institutions.
  • Creating false scarcity – The 1-2 day timeline pressures victims to act fast before supposedly losing out on the $1,400 payments. This scarcity effect compels people to bypass skepticism and hand over their data.
  • Generating curiosity – Messages telling people they’re eligible for mysterious stimulus payments pique curiosity. The desire to find out more entices victims to click the link.
  • Exploiting greed – The prospect of easy government money is inherently tempting. Victims’ greed blinds them to the scam’s red flags.

Together, these psychological tactics bypass critical thinking and exploit human vulnerabilities for profit.

What to Do if You’re Targeted by This Scam

If you receive a text claiming you’re eligible for $1,400 Economic Impact Payments from the IRS, take the following steps:

  1. Do not click any links – The URLs lead to fake sites designed to steal your information. Avoid clicking or tapping them on your phone.
  2. Check for red flags – Legitimate IRS communications rarely happen over text. Look for typos, grammatical errors, or unusual links revealing the message’s fraudulent origins.
  3. Forward the text to 7726 – This IRS reporting number allows you to send scam texts directly to investigators.
  4. Report it to the FTC – File a scam report with the Federal Trade Commission to help authorities identify and stop these schemes.
  5. Monitor accounts for fraud – Keep close watch on your financial accounts for signs of unauthorized transactions in case scammers obtained any of your information.
  6. Set up scam call blocking – Since phone numbers can be spoofed, enable scam call blocking services through your carrier to defend against future scam calls.
  7. Beware of follow-up scams – The crooks behind this IRS text scam often come back with related frauds down the line, like fake calls from the IRS or SSA. Remain vigilant.
  8. Educate others – Share information about this scam with friends and family so they can also protect themselves.

Frequently Asked Questions About the $1,400 IRS Scam Texts

1. What exactly is the $1,400 IRS text message scam?

The $1,400 IRS scam is a fraudulent text message scheme where recipients are told they qualify for an Economic Impact Payment of $1,400 from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The texts contain links to fake IRS websites designed to steal victims’ personal and financial information.

2. How does the IRS scam text message work?

The scam texts claim the recipient can receive a $1,400 stimulus payment which will be deposited or mailed to them within 1-2 days. The messages provide a link to a phony IRS site where users are prompted to enter sensitive details like their name, address, Social Security number, and bank account or credit card information.

3. What are some examples of the scam text messages?

The IRS scam texts typically start with:

“Internal Revenue Service (IRS) You are eligible to receive a $1,400 Economic Impact Payment. Please provide your accurate personal information. We will deposit the amount into your bank account or mail a paper check within 1 to 2 business days.”

4. What government agency does the scam text claim to be from?

The fraudulent texts masquerade as official communications from the IRS or Internal Revenue Service. This aims to convince recipients the messages and associated sites are legitimate.

5. What personal information do the scam texts try to get you to provide?

The fake IRS sites connected to the scam texts try to trick users into inputting confidential details like:

– Full name
– Home address
– Phone number
– Social Security number
– Bank account/routing numbers
– Credit card numbers

6. Is it really the IRS sending these text messages?

No, the IRS does not contact taxpayers through text messages. These are fraudulent messages disguised to appear as if they are from the IRS.

7. Are the scam texts promising real $1,400 stimulus checks?

No, there are currently no legitimate $1,400 Economic Impact Payments being issued by the IRS. The scam messages fabricate these stimulus promises to deceive potential victims.

8. What are some red flags of the IRS scam texts?

Warning signs include:

– Spelling/grammar errors
– Strange links that don’t match IRS.gov
– Requests for sensitive personal/financial data
– Promises of stimulus checks that don’t exist

9. What should I do if I receive one of these IRS scam text messages?

If targeted by these texts:

– Do not click any links
– Forward the message to the IRS at 7726
– Report it to the FTC
– Monitor your accounts for fraudulent activity

10. How can I avoid falling victim to the $1,400 IRS text scam?

Protect yourself by:

– Being wary of promises of government funds
– Double checking senders are legitimate
– Never providing personal info via text
– Confirming offers directly with agencies first

The Bottom Line

This IRS $1,400 Economic Impact Payment scam aims to capitalize on people’s desire for COVID-19 financial relief, despite no such new stimulus checks actually being issued currently. The texts lure victims to fake IRS websites designed to steal personal data for identity theft and fraud.

If targeted by these scam messages, report them immediately rather than clicking any links or providing information. With awareness of the scam’s deceptive tactics, we can help prevent the criminals behind these frauds from claiming more victims and work to eventually shut them down.

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