HARRISBURG — Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne recently issued a warning about a phishing scam targeting Pennsylvanians. The scam involves fraudulent text messages that impersonate Pennsylvania Department of Revenue officials and attempt to trick recipients into sharing sensitive personal and financial information.
Similar reports have surfaced in Philadelphia, where the city’s Department of Revenue has also seen residents targeted by deceptive texts. These messages often include links to fake websites and request banking details under the pretense of processing a refund.
“We want to make it absolutely clear that the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue does not send unsolicited text messages asking for banking information,” said Secretary Browne. “If you have any suspicion that you received a message like this, do not click any links, do not respond, and delete the message immediately.”
The scam is not limited to Pennsylvania. State revenue agencies in California, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Missouri have also reported similar fraudulent activity, indicating a coordinated effort to exploit taxpayers across the country.
The Department of Revenue advises all Pennsylvania taxpayers to verify the status of their refund only through official channels. Taxpayers can check the status of their refunds online by visiting the department’s official online tax hub, myPATH, or by calling 1-888-PATAXES. Taxpayers will be prompted to provide their Social Security number and requested refund amount to obtain the current status.
How to Stay Safe:
- Do not click on links from unknown or suspicious senders.
- Never share your Social Security number, bank account details, or other personal information via text.
- Report suspicious messages or calls to the Department of Revenue at 717-425-2495, Ext. 72267.
To verify potentially fraudulent contact from the Department or to report suspicious activity, visit revenue.pa.gov. You can also learn more about identifying phishing texts and scams by visiting the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s website.
