You may see spam texts reading that they are “from the IRS.”
But those aren’t the only ones, and there are steps you can take to end it.
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How do I know it’s a spam text?
Getting texts from an unknown number may seem like a simple mistake. But, it is usually a scammer trying to steal personal information. Text scams cost Americans about $131 million in 2021. Read more about it here.
Scammers will use a range of stories in order to get a reply. Some common tactics are:
- promise free prizes or gift cards
- offer a low interest credit card
- promise to help pay off loans
- say they’ve noticed suspicious activity on your account
- claim that there is a problem with your payment information
- send a fake invoice asking you to contact them
- send a fake package delivery notification
Keep in mind that the IRS will never contact you via phone. The service only contacts taxpayers via mail.
What is the average Social Security benefit for retired workers each month?
What do I do if I get a spam text?
Don’t respond to the message and don’t click on any links if you feel it is fraudulent. A few effective ways for filtering out the messages are:
- block the number from your phone
- block robo calls through your service provider here
- use a call blocking app
If you get a spam message, there are three ways to report it:
- report it on the messaging app you use, there should be an option to report to junk or spam
- copy the message and forward it `to 7726(SPAM)
- report it to the FTC here
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