California officials warn residents of rising text-based tax scams

State officials are warning Californians to be on the lookout for fraudulent text messages that appear to come from the Franchise Tax Board. The messages are designed to steal personal and financial information.

The FTB stated that it has recently received reports of

phishing texts that include links to fake websites mimicking official government pages. The sites attempt to trick taxpayers into entering banking details, Social Security numbers, and other personal information.

Common tax scams include fake phone calls demanding immediate payment, phishing emails claiming a refund is due, and identity thieves filing false tax returns to steal refunds.

“Bad actors are getting more sophisticated and show little signs of slowing. I urge Californians to not click on links in texts asking consumers for personal information, visit only official websites, and talk to friends and family who may be unaware of these dangers,” Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement.

Officials urge taxpayers not to reply to suspicious texts, click on links, or download attachments from them. Instead, they should verify messages by contacting the FTB or IRS directly through official websites or phone numbers.

Taxpayers can review scam prevention tips and report suspicious messages through the FTB’s Scams webpage or the Attorney General’s consumer protection page.

Those who suspect fraud may also contact the FTB at 800-852-5711 or the IRS at 800-829-1040.