Scammers can smell a big tax refund from a mile away, and this filing season they are moving in on Charlotte-area taxpayers with a fresh wave of phishing texts, fake preparers and bogus “refund approved” websites aimed at stealing bank details and Social Security numbers.
According to WCNC-TV, victims report getting messages that claim their refund has been processed and instruct them to visit a verification page that looks official. The station’s consumer team notes that these fake pages often display IRS or bank logos and then ask for sensitive information. Some people say they were pushed to accept a refund advance or to “verify” account numbers that later turned out to be a direct pipeline for money to vanish from their accounts.
Early filing data from the IRS shows the average refund is up by double digits this season, making each payout a bigger prize for fraudsters, according to Fox Business. Tax experts say last year’s federal tax changes combined with unchanged withholding tables left many taxpayers overwithheld, which helps explain the jump in refund sizes.
The Internal Revenue Service notes on its website that phishing, “smishing” texts and dishonest or “ghost” preparers routinely spike during filing season, and that offers of an unusually large or unusually fast refund are a classic red flag. The IRS emphasizes that it does not initiate contact by email, text or social media to request sensitive personal information. If you suspect fraud, the agency instructs people not to reply and to follow the reporting steps on its site.
How the scam usually works
Many of the current schemes kick off with a spoofed text or email claiming a refund has already been processed and asking the recipient to click a link to “verify” bank details. The Federal Trade Commission says those links lead to counterfeit forms that capture Social Security numbers, account logins or other data that thieves can use to claim refunds or drain accounts. In other versions, scammers dangle refund-advance offers or pose as preparers who ask clients to sign incomplete returns, then quietly pocket the payment.
What to do if you get a suspicious message
Do not click links, reply, or give out information. Instead, go directly to IRS.gov or your state revenue website to check your refund status yourself. Forward suspicious emails to [email protected] and report impersonation calls to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 1-800-366-4484 so investigators can track the scam. If you think your bank account or identity has been exposed, contact your bank immediately and consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze on your account.
Local resources for North Carolina filers
The N.C. Department of Revenue warns that it will never text you about a refund and posts a fraud alert with steps to protect your identity on its website. Residents are encouraged to use the state’s “Where's My Refund” tool or call the department directly before responding to any message that asks for bank or Social Security information. Keeping the department’s refund line handy and checking messages against the official site can help you avoid being rushed into a bad decision.
Filing early, e-filing and directing refunds to an account you control all shrink the window for fraud, experts say, and you should avoid preparers who promise unusually large refunds or charge fees based on refund size. If a preparer asks you to sign blank forms or refuses to provide a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN), walk away and report the misconduct to the IRS.
