Chicago, IL – Illinois residents are being warned about a new text message scam falsely claiming to be from the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR). Officials say the fraudulent messages tell recipients that a tax refund has been processed and urge them to share or confirm their banking information to avoid losing their refund.
According to the Illinois Department of Revenue, the unsolicited texts are part of a nationwide phishing scheme designed to deceive taxpayers into revealing sensitive personal and financial data.
“There has been a significant rise in fake text messages impersonating state revenue departments,” said IDOR Director David Harris. “These scams pressure people into sharing financial information. Let me be clear — IDOR never sends unsolicited text messages asking for banking or personal details.”
Officials advise taxpayers to avoid clicking on any links in these messages. IDOR communicates only through the U.S. Postal Service or its secure online portal, MyTax Illinois. Any text, email, or social media message claiming to be from IDOR should be considered fraudulent and deleted immediately.
Residents with concerns about tax refunds or suspicious correspondence are urged to verify information directly with IDOR at tax.illinois.gov or by calling 1-800-732-8866.
