The Delaware Department of Finance and the Division of Revenue are warning residents about a surge in fraudulent text messages impersonating the Division of Revenue. The scam messages claim that a taxpayer’s refund “has been processed and approved” and instruct recipients to provide “valid payment information” by a specific deadline. The texts also falsely warn that the refund will be forfeited if no response is received.
Officials urge residents not to click on any links or respond to these messages. The Division of Revenue emphasized that it never sends text messages requesting personal or financial information, and there is no such thing as an automatic forfeiture of a tax refund for failing to respond.
“Scammers often use fear and urgency to trick people into sharing sensitive information,” the department said in a statement. “They may use publicly available information, such as your name or phone number, to make their messages appear more legitimate.”Residents who are uncertain about the status of their refund or tax account should contact Public Service directly at 302-577-8200.
Officials advise taxpayers to take a cautious approach when receiving unexpected messages about their finances. Scammers often rely on creating panic or deadlines to pressure individuals into quick action. Instead, residents are urged to verify the source by visiting delaware.gov, logging into their official portal account, or calling the Division’s hotline to confirm whether any legitimate notice was issued. Messages that lack specific account details or a return mailing address should be treated as suspicious, since official communications always include verifiable contact information.
The Division also reminds residents never to share personal or financial details in response to unsolicited communications. Only provide information through secure, verified channels.
As a separate notice, the Division of Revenue announced that its online portal is temporarily offline due to a system upgrade. Full service is expected to be restored on October 6, 2025. Officials appreciate the public’s patience as the update is completed.
