The Ohio Department of Taxation (ODT) is warning taxpayers about text messages falsely claiming to be from the department that leads recipients to a fake website impersonating ODT's website.
The text message states, "Your tax refund request has been approved and is now pending release." It asks recipients to finalize processing by clicking on the link provided to confirm their account details. The fraudulent link takes users to a webpage that mimics ODT's webpage and improperly displays ODT's logo and branding.
"Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, even going so far as to copy our logos and create fake websites that look official," said Ohio Tax Commissioner Patricia Harris. "I want Ohioans to know that the department of taxation will never contact you by text about your taxes or refunds. If you receive one of these messages, do not click the link—go directly to tax.ohio.gov to ensure you are on our official site."
Here are some other important tips to keep in mind:
If you feel you have been the victim of an imposter scam, you should always contact local law enforcement as well as the credit reporting agencies to let them know your information has been compromised. You should also report it to the Ohio Attorney General as well as the Office of Consumer Affairs within the Ohio Department of Commerce's Division of Financial Institutions at (866) 278-0003 or webdfi-oca@com.ohio.gov.