Is irs-refund-gov.com a Scam?
IRS tax refund phishing — requests SSN and bank account details. This page explains what irs-refund-gov.com is, what personal information it is designed to steal, and exactly what to do if you received a message containing this link.
Domain Evidence
- Domain is .com, not .gov — all US government websites use the .gov top-level domain
- The IRS never contacts taxpayers via text message, email, or social media
- Embeds 'gov' inside a .com domain name — a known tactic to mislead recipients
- Specific dollar amount ($892) creates false specificity to appear legitimate
- Requests identity verification via an external link — the IRS never does this
What irs-refund-gov.com Is Impersonating
irs-refund-gov.com impersonates IRS. The official, legitimate IRS website is irs.gov. Any link that does not point directly to irs.gov is not from IRS. When in doubt, open a new browser tab and type the official address manually.
Real Scam Message Using This Domain
This is the type of message people receive containing this domain (the link itself has been removed — do not visit it):
This message impersonates the IRS (Internal Revenue Service). The domain irs-refund-gov.com deliberately embeds 'gov' in its name to appear like a US government website — but all genuine US government sites use the .gov top-level domain, not .com. The IRS does not initiate contact via text message, email, or social media under any circumstances. This is a well-known IRS impersonation scam pattern.
What to Do If You Clicked This Link
- 1Close the tab immediately — do not enter your Social Security Number, bank account details, or any personal information
- 2If you entered your SSN or bank details, report identity theft at identitytheft.gov and place a fraud alert with all three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion)
- 3Contact your bank if you provided account or routing numbers to prevent unauthorized transfers
- 4Report the scam: email phishing@irs.gov, file at reportfraud.ftc.gov, and report identity theft at identitytheft.gov
How to Report This Scam
- 📱 Forward the SMS to 7726 (SPAM) — alerts your mobile carrier
- 🔗 IRS Phishing Report: phishing@irs.gov
- 🔗 FTC Fraud Report: reportfraud.ftc.gov
- 🔗 Identity Theft Report: identitytheft.gov
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the IRS send refund notices by text message?
No. The IRS does not initiate contact via text message, social media, or email. If you receive a text claiming to be from the IRS, it is a scam. The IRS communicates exclusively by postal mail.
Is irs-refund-gov.com a real government website?
No. US government tax websites use the .gov top-level domain. irs-refund-gov.com is a commercial domain (.com) with 'gov' embedded to mislead — it has no affiliation with the IRS or any government agency.
What should I do if I entered my information on irs-refund-gov.com?
Report identity theft to the IRS at identitytheft.gov. Place a fraud alert on your credit file by contacting Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. File a report with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
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