In short
Messages about tax refunds, benefit payments or unpaid fines are common scams. Learn how tax offices really contact you and how to check safely.
Top warning signs: You're told to claim a refund by clicking a link; Threats of arrest or immediate court action; Payment by gift card, crypto or transfer to a personal account.
First thing to do: Log in to your tax or government account by typing the official address yourself, or use the official app. Any real refund or debt will be shown there.
How the scam works
Fake government messages copy logos and official-sounding language. Refund versions promise money. Fine and tax-debt versions threaten penalties, court action or even arrest.
The link leads to a copy of a government portal asking for your ID details, bank login or card. Phone versions may demand immediate payment by gift card or crypto “to avoid arrest”.
Red flags to look for
- You're told to claim a refund by clicking a link. Tax offices generally don't send refund links by text or email.
- Threats of arrest or immediate court action. Real authorities send letters and give you time and ways to query.
- Payment by gift card, crypto or transfer to a personal account. No government takes these.
- The website address isn't the official government domain. Look for the official domain (for example gov.uk, irs.gov, canada.ca, gov.in, gov.br, gob.mx) as the ending of the address.
What to do if you get one
- Log in to your tax or government account by typing the official address yourself, or use the official app. Any real refund or debt will be shown there.
- Forward phishing emails to your government's reporting address if it has one (for example report@phishing.gov.uk in the UK). Find yours.
- If someone calls threatening arrest, hang up. Real officials won't mind you calling back through the official number.
If you already paid or shared details
Act quickly. It makes a difference.
- Contact your bank about any payment or card details you entered.
- If you shared ID documents or your national insurance or social security number, contact the tax office and consider an identity-theft protection or credit monitoring service.
- Report it to the national fraud service.
More help: what to do after a scam, and where to report it in your country.
How to protect yourself next time
Watch for anyone using your identity
If you shared ID documents, card details or a Social Security number, monitoring can alert you when someone opens credit or accounts in your name.
Free: In the US, a credit freeze at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion is free and blocks most new-credit fraud. Elsewhere, ask your bank and your credit reference agency about fraud alerts.
- Aura Partner link US identity theft protection with credit monitoring and fraud insurance.
Take your details off data broker sites
Scammers buy phone numbers, home addresses and family details from people-search and data broker sites. The less of that is public, the fewer and less convincing the scam messages you get.
Free: You can ask each site to delete your details yourself. In the EU and the UK, data protection law gives you that right.
- Incogni Partner link Sends removal requests to data brokers for you, and keeps sending them.
Compare the tools that help, and what each costs
Links marked Partner link may earn us a commission, at no cost to you. It never changes our advice, and the free option always comes first. Affiliate disclosure.
Questions people ask
Can the tax office text me at all?
Some tax offices do send texts, for example reminders, but they won't ask for bank details or send refund links. When in doubt, log in yourself.
Have you had this one?
Tell other people what the message said and how it reached you. It helps someone recognise it before they tap.
No stories yet. Yours could be the one that warns someone.
Official sources and further reading
We check our guides against advice from government agencies and consumer protection bodies.
- Recognize tax scams and fraud (US Internal Revenue Service)
- Identify tax scam phone calls, emails and text messages (HM Revenue and Customs, GOV.UK)
- Phishing (includes fake Canada Revenue Agency messages) (Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre)
