(WBRE/WYOU) — Officials are warning Pennsylvania residents to stay vigilant as scammers in a new phishing scam are now posing as Department of Revenue staff, targeting financial and personal data.
In a release, the Pennsylvania Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne issued a warning of a phishing scam targeting residents of the Keystone State.
Authorities explain that the scam involves fraudulent text messages that impersonate Department of Revenue officials and try to fool recipients into giving sensitive financial and personal information.
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Identical reports have emerged in Philadelphia, where the city's Department of Revenue has also seen members of the commonwealth targeted by misleading text messages which often include links to fake websites and ask for banking details under the pretense of completing a refund.
We want to make it absolutely clear that the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue does not send unsolicited text messages asking for banking information. If you have any suspicion that you received a message like this, do not click any links, do not respond, and delete the message immediately.
Pennsylvania Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne
The scam isn't only happening in Pennsylvania, as state revenue agencies in the listed states have also reported similar scam efforts, suggesting a coordinated effort to scam taxpayers across the United States.
Pennsylvania taxpayers are advised by authorities to confirm the status of their refund through official channels online by visiting the department's official online tax hub or by calling 1-888-PATAXES.
Taxpayers would be prompted to give their Social Security number and requested refund amount to receive the current status.
The release gave the following tips for residents to stay safe:
Do not click on links from unknown or suspicious senders.
Never share your Social Security number, bank account details, or other personal information via text.
Report suspicious messages or calls to the Department of Revenue at 717-425-2495, Ext. 72267.
To report suspicious activity or verify potentially fraudulent contact from the department, residents can go online.
Members of the commonwealth could also go to the Pennsylvania Attorney General's website for more information.
