The Delaware Department of Finance and the Division of Revenue have issued a warning about a new tax scam in which residents are receiving text messages impersonating the Division of Revenue.
Recognizing fraudulent text messages and emails helps reduce the number of financial, identity, and tax thefts while giving you peace of mind that your financial stability is on track.
Raising awareness and helping to identify scams helps keep the public alert and better able to protect themselves.
What are tax refund text scams?
Tax refund text scams, also known as “smishing,” are when a scammer sends text messages designed to trick recipients into revealing their personal and financial information by impersonating the IRS or a state revenue agency.
Scammers will often impersonate a government tax authority by using official-looking language that creates a sense of urgency. They will include links in the text that lead to fraudulent websites and prompt users to enter personal or financial information to confirm their identity. These links can also contain malware, which can download malicious software to your phone.
Consequences of falling victim to these scams
Victims of tax scams often face significant losses, spend extensive time recovering, and may be liable for hefty fines or additional taxes. Recovering from a tax scam can take months to years.
The financial difficulties that many victims face include stolen funds, liability for taxes on fraudulent income, delayed funds, loss of potential tax deductions, credit score changes, and, not to mention, the emotional toll.
Warning from the Delaware Division of Revenue
The Delaware Division of Revenue does not send text messages requesting personal or financial information, and there is no such thing as automatic forfeiture of a tax refund due to lack of response.
If you are unsure about the status of your refund or tax account, please contact Public Service directly at 302-577-8200.”
Common red flags to watch for include:
- Unexpected communication: The IRS and state tax agencies do not initiate contact except through official letters mailed through the U.S. Postal Service.
- Personal Information Requests: asking to click links to “verify” or “confirm” your identity
- Sense of urgency: using threats of loss of return or jail time if not accepted within the timeframe
- Grammar and spelling errors: typos and/or awkward language
- A big “payday”: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is
To protect yourself from these scams, the Division of Revenue offers the following tips:
- Don’t Rush: Scammers create a false sense of urgency. Take your time to review any unexpected communications carefully.
- Verify the Source: Never trust contact information provided in a suspicious message. Instead, visit delaware.gov and log into your portal account or call the official hotline to verify if a legitimate notice was issued.
- Watch for Red Flags: Be cautious of messages lacking details about your specific tax account or those that don’t include a return mailing address. Official notices will always contain verifiable contact and account information.
- Protect Your Information: Never share personal or financial details in response to unsolicited messages. Only provide information through verified and secure channels.
Important Notice:
Please note that the Division of Revenue’s online portal is currently experiencing downtime due to a system upgrade. We appreciate your patience as we work to restore full service on October 6, 2025.
Scammers and criminals don’t take days off; therefore, remaining vigilant and cautious when it comes to protecting your personal information is crucial. Always verify the source of any requests for sensitive information to avoid falling victim to potential scams.