Tax Refund and Tax Office Scam Messages
Fake tax office messages promise a refund or threaten penalties to steal your details. Learn how to spot a tax scam and check safely.
What the message looks like
Scam messages change all the time, but they often look something like this example (the names and links are made up):
How the scam works
Scammers pretend to be your country’s tax office. Some messages promise a refund and ask for your card or bank details. Others threaten penalties, legal action or arrest unless you pay a tax debt right away, sometimes by gift card or cryptocurrency. Both versions aim to steal money or personal information like your tax or ID number.
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Warning signs
- A refund offered by text or email that asks you to click a link and enter card details.
- Threats of arrest, police, or deportation.
- Demands for payment by gift card, cryptocurrency or wire transfer.
- A website address that isn’t your government’s official domain.
How real tax offices usually contact you
Many tax offices send important notices by post or through your secure online government account, and they don’t ask you to pay with gift cards. Rules differ by country, so if you’re unsure, check your tax office’s official website for how they contact people.
What to do
- Don’t click links or call numbers in the message.
- Log in to your official tax account by typing the government website address yourself, or call the tax office using the number from their official site.
- Report the message to the tax office; many have an address for forwarding scam emails.
If you shared your details
Contact your bank if you shared card or bank details. If you shared an ID or tax number, contact the tax office to report possible identity theft.
Not sure if a message is real?
Paste or screenshot it into our free scam checker. You’ll see the warning signs and what to do.
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