No, the IRS didn't text or email you - 3 ways to protect yourself from scams

Messages claiming you're due a tax refund are sent by scammers spoofing the IRS and other tax agencies. The FTC has some advice for making it safely through tax season.

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ZDNET's key takeaways

• Messages that claim you're due a tax refund are scams.
• The scammers want your bank account or Social Security number.
• Don't respond to the message. Instead, report it and then delete it.

Most of us have probably received a text, email, or even phone message from the IRS or another tax authority. Often, the message claims that you owe money on some delinquent tax liability. Other times, it claims that a nice, big, juicy refund is waiting for you. Either way, the people on the other end are hoping you'll call back or select a link in the message to follow ...