Illinois Revenue Department Warns of New Text Message Scam (Chicago, IL) – The Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) is warning taxpayers about a new wave of fraudulent text messages designed to trick people into giving up their banking information.
The nationwide scam involves urgent texts claiming a tax refund has been processed and instructing recipients to provide or verify their personal banking details. The messages often carry threats that a refund could be lost if the individual fails to respond.
“There has been a significant rise in fake text messages impersonating state revenue departments,” said IDOR Director David Harris. “These scams are designed to deceive taxpayers and pressure them into revealing their most sensitive financial information. Let me be very clear that IDOR does not send unsolicited text messages asking for banking or personal information.”
Officials emphasized that IDOR communicates with taxpayers through secure channels, such as the U.S. Postal Service or the agency’s online account management platform, MyTax Illinois. Any unexpected text, email, or social media message claiming to be from the department—particularly those requesting personal or financial details—should be treated as fraudulent.
Harris advised taxpayers not to click on any links in suspicious messages and to delete them immediately. “Protecting taxpayer information is a top priority,” he said. “If you’re ever unsure about a message you’ve received, we strongly encourage you to reach out to us directly.”
Residents with questions about their tax refunds, account balances, or correspondence from IDOR can verify information by visiting tax.illinois.gov or by calling 1-800-732-8866.
Illinois Revenue Department Warns of New Text Message Scam
