Tax refund scam targets residents in Minnesota and Philadelphia

In recent weeks, officials in the United States have become increasingly concerned about a series of text message scams targeting taxpayers in Minnesota and Pennsylvania. The Minnesota Department of Revenue alerted residents that they may receive messages falsely claiming their tax refunds have been approved and asking for personal banking information to process the payment. The department clearly stated that these unsolicited communications are not legitimate and emphasized the importance of not clicking on any provided links. This issue has prompted similar warnings from the Philadelphia Department of Revenue, which indicated that their residents are also being targeted by scam texts. While the Philadelphia Department of Revenue did not disclose specific details about the contents of the messages, they confirmed that scammers were impersonating them to obtain sensitive information. They urged taxpayers to be vigilant, informing them that they will never request personal or banking information via text. It was noted that residents should avoid opening links from unknown senders and should confirm any refund information through official channels such as the Philadelphia Tax Center. The Minnesota Department of Revenue responded to similar complaints by warning citizens against falling victim to what seemed to be an urgent request for immediate action. Several reports indicated that the fraudulent messages warned recipients that failure to submit the requested banking details would result in the permanent forfeiture of their refunds. State officials advised anyone receiving such texts to classify them as junk or spam and instructed those who might have already submitted personal or banking information to contact their banks without delay. This pattern of fraud is a troubling trend, as similar scams have proliferated over social media and messaging platforms. Government agencies like the IRS have released warnings in the past about scams related to various financial incentives, including stimulus checks. The Better Business Bureau also highlighted the significance of skepticism toward unsolicited messages, particularly those that create a sense of urgency. They encourage the public to take time for verification and to independently confirm claims before providing any information.