News Summary

As tax season approaches, the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) has issued a warning to taxpayers about a new scam involving fraudulent text messages. Scammers are sending messages that appear to be from the FTB, aiming to capture personal and banking information. Taxpayers are advised to remain vigilant and verify any suspicious communications. The FTB encourages individuals to protect their information and report any fraudulent encounters to the appropriate authorities to prevent identity theft and fraud.

Attention Taxpayers in California!

As tax season rolls around, the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) is sounding the alarm about a new scam that could put your sensitive information at risk. Yep, you heard it right! It seems that scammers are getting creative, and we need to be on high alert.

What’s this all about?

The FTB has recently issued a warning to California taxpayers about a sneaky scam that’s tickling the phone lines. Taxpayers have been receiving text messages that claim to be from the FTB. But here’s the catch: these texts are nothing more than traps designed to snare your personal and banking details. If you’ve received a text and thought it looked a bit fishy, you might be onto something.

Guard Your Information!

With tax time here, it’s crucial to safeguard your tax, bank account, credit card, and personal information. Nobody wants to fall victim to identity theft or fraud, and unfortunately, scammers often impersonate *legitimate* tax agency representatives to deceive hardworking taxpayers. Malia M. Cohen, the Chair of the FTB, emphasized how important it is for everyone to stay vigilant against these scams that come knocking at our digital doors.

How to Spot a Scam

First things first, if you receive a text message claiming to be from the FTB, take a deep breath and stay calm. It’s always smart to verify the authenticity of any communication claiming to be from the FTB, IRS, or any other tax agencies. The FTB has a scams webpage that provides useful tips for identifying and avoiding these sneaky scams. This is the best place to start if you want to keep your personal information secure.

Beware of messages that include clickable links. These links often lead you to fake FTB webpages, designed to look real but are set up to capture your sensitive data. Just saying, it’s better to be safe than sorry!

What Should You Do?

The FTB strongly advises against replying to any suspicious texts, downloading attachments, or, most importantly, clicking on any links if you have doubts about their legitimacy. It’s a good rule of thumb: when in doubt, throw it out!

If you are ever uncertain about a message you’ve received, you can easily visit the FTB’s text messaging webpage to confirm whether the text is genuinely from them. You may also want to take a peek at their online scam avoidance tips—they’re a treasure trove of information!

Reporting Scams

Should you find yourself on the receiving end of a suspicious letter from the FTB or IRS, do not panic! Instead, take proactive steps and reach out to the FTB directly at (800) 852-5711 or call the IRS at (800) 829-1040. Reporting these scams not only helps protect you but also alerts the authorities to the ongoing issues, potentially saving someone else from being scammed.

Final Thoughts

Remember, as we navigate through tax season, it’s essential to protect ourselves and our information. So, if you receive unexpected messages claiming to be from tax agencies, stay savvy and trust your instincts. By remaining alert and informed, you can shield yourself from these nasty scams. Let’s keep our personal and financial information safe this tax season!

Stay vigilant and happy filing!