The NC Department of Revenue (NCDOR) has warned of scams where criminals send fraudulent text messages claiming your tax refund is approved, urging you to click a link to provide bank info to avoid “forfeiture”. NCDOR never communicates about tax refunds via text. Delete these messages immediately and do not click links.
Key Details on NCDOR Text Scams
- Tactics: Scammers use urgent, threatening language, such as warning that you will lose your refund if you don’t act quickly.
- The Goal: To steal personal, financial, or banking information for identity theft.
- Signs of a Scam: The message lacks a specific tax year or refund amount and includes a suspicious link.
- What to Do: Delete the message, do not click the link, and do not provide any personal information.
- Reporting: Potential scams can be reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
NCDOR confirms it will not contact taxpayers via text message to discuss refunds or demand immediate payment.