An urgent warning has set off alarms across America. Social Security in the United States (SSA) has issued an alert about a new IRS scam that's causing fear among citizens.
The alarm has a name: smishing, a fraud technique that arrives via text message with an official appearance. SSA warns that scammers are sending texts that look like they're from the IRS or Social Security.
Alarm at SSA in the United States: Stay alert to this scam
These messages mention supposed withheld refunds or problems with your number, and they try to get you to click on fake links. They copy logos, official numbers, and real dates to convince you. They want you to act quickly, without thinking.
In the United States, many people first receive the news in a text message or an urgent email, instead of a letter by mail. However, SSA emphasizes that a real IRS notification always arrives by physical letter, never by message. If a text demands immediate action, it's smishing, it's a scam.
The modus operandi is highly sophisticated
Scammers use very sophisticated tactics. They can fake the number that appears as the sender, spoof the caller ID or messages so it looks like they're from the IRS or SSA. They also send links that lead to pages identical to IRS.gov.
Another common trick is to threaten with arrest or freezing your account if you don't pay right away. They ask you to pay with gift cards, cryptocurrencies, or wire transfers, methods that are impossible to trace.
You should never trust this: SSA is firm
You should never trust if the first contact comes by text or email asking you to pay quickly, or to share personal data. You should never trust threats of arrest, urgent orders, payments with gift cards or cryptocurrencies. You should never accept links or attachments without verifying.
If you suspect a supposed message from the IRS, the safest thing is to hang up or delete the message. Then, look up the official IRS website, call the number listed there, and ask. SSA recommends reporting scams on their official website or to the SSA Inspector General.
This type of alert creates fear among citizens; knowing that they can trick you with increasingly elaborate techniques sparks a sense of insecurity. However, that fear can also serve as fuel to stay alert, to reinforce maximum caution. The key is to be well informed and keep calm.