STATEWIDE, Del. – The Delaware Department of Finance and Division of Revenue are warning residents about a surge in fraudulent text messages targeting taxpayers. The messages falsely claim a refund “has been processed and approved” and demand recipients provide “valid payment information” by a specific deadline, threatening forfeiture if no response is received.
Officials stress that the Division of Revenue does not send text messages requesting personal or financial information, and tax refunds are not automatically forfeited for lack of response. Residents unsure about their refund or tax account status should contact Public Service at 302-577-8200.
Scammers often use fear, urgency, and publicly available information such as a name or phone number to make messages appear legitimate. The Division of Revenue advises residents to:
- Take their time: Scammers create a false sense of urgency.
- Verify the source: Never trust contact information in suspicious messages. Use delaware.gov or the official hotline to confirm.
- Watch for red flags: Messages lacking specific account details or a return mailing address are likely fraudulent.
- Protect your information: Never share personal or financial details in response to unsolicited messages. Only use verified, secure channels.
The Division of Revenue’s online portal is currently down due to a system upgrade and is expected to be restored on October 6, 2025. For updates and more information, residents can visit tax.delaware.gov.
Photo: Delaware.gov