The U.S. Federal Trade Commission issued an alert about a surge in phishing texts and emails offering fake 'tax refunds' and impersonating tax authorities. Consumers are advised to ignore unsolicited links and report incidents to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

The Federal Trade Commission published a consumer alert on January 22, 2026, warning of a wave of phishing and smishing campaigns that impersonate tax authorities and promise fraudulent refunds. Scammers deliver messages via SMS, email, and messaging apps that contain links to credential‑harvesting pages or malware, often timed to coincide with tax season when recipients expect communications about refunds. The FTC emphasized practical steps for consumers, including not clicking unsolicited links, verifying official agency addresses, and reporting suspicious contacts and transactions to ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The advisory also outlines indicators of government impersonation such as urgent language, requests for payment via gift cards or cryptocurrency, and mismatched sender domains. The agency encouraged tax preparers and payroll departments to alert clients and workers, and noted that fraud patterns escalate each year during filing season. The alert aims to reduce successful takeovers by combining public awareness with reporting channels that feed into law enforcement and industry takedown efforts.