Officials warn of text message scam targeting Minnesotans

The Minnesota Department of Revenue announced Wednesday that scammers are posing as government officials to collect bank information from residents. It’s unclear who started the scam, but state officials say the source is from outside of the department.

“Your refund request has been processed and approved. Please provide accurate payment information by September 17, 2025. Funds will be deposited into your bank account or mailed to you via paper check within 1-2 business days,” a copy of the bogus text message reads, citing its source as the Minnesota Department of Revenue and describing it as an “Official State Government Agency.”

“Failure to submit the required payment information by September 17, 2025, will result in permanent forfeiture of this refund under Minnesota Statute §5747.11," the message adds.

Ryan Brown, media coordinator for the Department of Revenue, said officials learned of the scam on Sept. 15. Brown said the agency does not know much money residents lost to the scheme, but the agency has fielded around 500 calls about it.

“MNIT and Revenue are working with our federal and vendor partners to remove these fraudulent sites. Unfortunately, similar to the toll scams that targeted many state transportation services earlier this year, new scam sites are being created faster than legal challenges can shut them down,” Brown said.

“While these coordinated efforts make a difference, we anticipate additional scam attempts will emerge,” he added. “To protect yourself, always verify that you are on an official state website before entering any personal or financial information.”

Data for taxpayers and the Department of Revenue was not affected, the agency said.