Overview

• The Department of Revenue says the texts are fraudulent and stresses it will never request bank or refund payment information by text message.
• Reported messages claim an approved refund and demand payment details by Sept. 16, 2025, via a link, citing “Section 19322” of the Philadelphia Revenue and Taxation Code.
• Residents are directed to tax-services.phila.gov for legitimate refund information, advised not to click links, and encouraged to report spam texts by forwarding them to 7726 (SPAM).
• City officials say the texts contain malicious links and report no evidence of any breach of city databases; anyone who shared information should contact the FBI at 215-418-4000 or file a report with the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
• Nearly identical scam texts have been reported in New Jersey, Ohio, Utah, and California, aligning with a broader rise in smishing that cost consumers about $470 million in 2024, according to the FTC.