18 Million Americans Could Receive This Scam Message Soon!

Scammers often target the most vulnerable, such as the elderly, but sometimes, the scope of victims is much broader. Hackers are becoming increasingly creative in their methods to ensnare as many people as possible, hoping to deceive a larger audience. This time, they might just succeed unless the targeted individuals are well informed.

Therefore, if you receive a text message in the coming days, be cautious and double-check the sender’s contact information. Currently, cybercriminals are expertly mimicking the visuals and logo of the French Directorate General of Public Finances (DGFiP). Indeed, they are capitalizing on the buzz surrounding the upcoming income declaration season starting April 10, 2025. They send a text message prompting the recipient to log into their tax account to report cryptocurrency transactions. According to TF1, the message reads: “[Impots.gouv] Crypto transactions have been detected on your accounts. Declare them to avoid a 40% increase.” This message includes a link that you should absolutely not click on.

The scam is hard to detect, as the fraudsters use the same design and typography as the DGFiP. Victims are then asked to enter their first name, last name, and phone number, and to pay the amount due, which directly goes into the thieves’ accounts. “Various scams are being circulated by impersonating the Directorate General of Public Finances. Generally, do not click on links in text messages telling you that you need to pay a bill, a fine, or taxes,” the Directorate General of Public Finances warns on its website.

This year, nearly 18 million taxpayers are prompted to declare their income from the year 2024. It is crucial, therefore, to warn your friends and family about this scam, which is already gaining traction in France. So, if you receive such a text message, do not click on any URLs and verify the address. In this case, the scammers used “-gouv-fr.com” instead of the official “gouv.fr,” which is the address of official state websites. The link address should also include “https://” for a more secure connection. Finally, pay attention to the spelling and punctuation, which can sometimes be telltale signs of fraud.