The California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) is warning taxpayers to be vigilant against fraudulent text messages that claim to be from official sources. The FTB has reported instances where individuals have received fake messages impersonating the agency in an attempt to steal personal and financial information.
These scam messages often use “California Franchise Tax Board” as the title and claim that the recipient’s tax refund request has been processed and approved. The message instructs recipients to provide accurate payment information within a specified timeframe and threatens to permanently revoke their refund eligibility if the required information is not submitted in time.
Additionally, the fraudulent messages contain a link that prompts recipients to submit their information and instructs them to reply with “Y,” exit the message, and either click on the link provided or copy it into a browser to activate it.
If individuals inadvertently click on the link in the scam message, they are directed to a website operated by scammers who disguise it as a legitimate platform and gradually coax individuals into providing their bank account details, credit card information, and sensitive personal data.
It is worth noting that the format and tactics of these fraudulent messages bear a striking resemblance to the prevalent “highway toll” mobile scam messages seen before. Some of the scam message senders have phone numbers longer than the typical 10 digits, and some recipients have received scam messages from unusually strange email addresses.
The FTB advises everyone to safeguard their tax information and sensitive personal data, refrain from responding to any suspicious messages, avoid downloading attachments, and refrain from clicking on links from unknown sources in texts or emails.
California State Controller Malia M. Cohen emphasized in a statement that if individuals receive messages, emails, or calls claiming to be from the FTB, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), or other government agencies and feel suspicious, they should directly contact the relevant organization for verification to confirm if there are legitimate matters that require their attention.
Tax authorities also added that scammers frequently impersonate IRS or FTB staff to deceive taxpayers into paying nonexistent debts or stealing taxpayers’ personal information to file false tax returns and commit tax refund fraud. If taxpayers suspect they have been scammed in tax matters, they can seek assistance from the FTB (800-852-5711) or the IRS (800-829-1040).
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and local law enforcement agencies have repeatedly stressed that phishing scams share common features, where scammers create a sense of urgency by threatening victims with issues like unpaid taxes, medical insurance problems, impending loss of social security benefits, or legal repercussions to pressure them into immediate action.
The FBI advises the public to remain cautious of unfamiliar calls, never send money or disclose personal information to unknown or uncontacted individuals, trust their instincts, and if an unclear call feels uncomfortable or suspicious, promptly hang up.