(Attorney General’s Office Press Release, December 30, 2025)
BOISE, ID — Attorney General Raúl Labrador is warning Idahoans about a text scam claiming recipients must act urgently to receive $2,000 tariff rebate checks. The fraudulent messages, complete with bold and capitalized words, claim the recipient’s check will not be sent unless they click a link and respond immediately.
These texts are not from any government agency. No government payment would ever require a text response to qualify for receiving it.
The scam texts follow a familiar pattern designed to fool recipients:
- They reference tariff rebate checks mentioned in media reports to establish credibility
- They create false urgency with immediate deadlines
- They promise free money or threaten loss of opportunity
“Scams like this are all too familiar, especially around the holiday season,” said Attorney General Labrador. “It costs very little for scammers to send billions of these scam texts out across our telecom networks every month in the cynical calculation that some people will get fooled. The best way to prevent scams is to learn how to spot them in advance and flag any potential scams for my Consumer Protection Division, which a vigilant Idahoan did in this case helping bring it to our attention.”
The Consumer Protection Division of the Idaho Attorney General’s Office offers the following guidance:
- Government agencies do not send texts offering money or rebates, or demanding payment for fines, missed jury duty, or taxes. Any message claiming you must respond to receive a payment is a scam.
- Urgent deadlines are a big red flag. Scammers pressure people to act quickly so they don’t have time to think clearly or verify the claim.
- When unsure, stop and verify. Contact the agency directly using official contact information — not the link or number in the message.
For more tips on recognizing and preventing scams, visit ReportScamsIdaho.com.
