( WAND ) - The Illinois Department of Revenue is warning about a new nationwide text message scam targeting people with fake messages that appear to come from state revenue or treasury agencies.
The phishing scheme involves unsolicited, urgent text messages claiming that a tax refund has been processed. Recipients are then asked to provide or verify their personal banking information under the threat of losing a state refund.
“There has been a significant rise in fake text messages impersonating state revenue departments,” said IDOR Director David Harris. “These scams are designed to deceive taxpayers and pressure them into revealing their most sensitive financial information. Let me be very clear that IDOR does not send unsolicited text messages asking for banking or personal informat