Hey Michigan, Watch Out for This New Tax Refund Text Scam

Hey, cool, another scam to worry about. This time, it's coming straight to your phone and pretending to be the Michigan Department of Treasury.

The state says scammers are blasting out text messages claiming you need to update your payment information or risk losing your tax refund. It sounds a little scary at first, which is exactly what these crooks are hoping for. The message is meant to make you panic and think you will forfeit your money if you do not act right away.

How to Handle a Fake Treasury Text

Here’s the deal: the Michigan Department of Treasury will never text you asking for personal details or payment info. According to WNEM, they only contact taxpayers through official letters sent in the mail. If you get one of these texts, don’t reply, don’t click on anything, and definitely don’t hand over your info. Just delete it.

If you’re still unsure about your refund or think the message might be legit, call the Treasury’s Individual Income Tax Information Line at 517-636-4486. You’ll get a real person who can check your account, answer your questions, and log the scam attempt.

Get our free mobile app

Katina Litterini, who runs the Treasury’s Tax Administration Services Bureau, says it best: “Taxpayers who receive this bogus text message should immediately delete it.”

If a text like this pops up, do not mess with it. Delete it and, if you want peace of mind, call the Treasury directly.