Americans are being targeted by a cruel new tax refund scam, the IRS h…

Americans are being targeted by a cruel new tax refund scam, the IRS has warned. 
Victims are being sent a letter in the mail which misleads them into believing they are owed a rebate - and seeks to trick them into handing over personal information including a picture of their driver's license. 
The tax agency warned that this information can then be used by scammers to commit identity fraud. 
The letter, which has an IRS masthead and fake contact number for the agency, also asks people to share their cellphone number, bank routing information, Social Security number and bank account type.  
This latest scam comes as the .

Taxpayers have until July 17 to claim their share of almost $1.5 billion in unclaimed funds - with an average payout of $893.
Victims are being sent a letter in the mail which tries to mislead them into believing they are owed an unclaimed rebate
The letter, which has an IRS masthead and a fake contact number for the agency, also asks people to share their cellphone number, bank routing information, Social Security number and bank account type
'This is just the latest in the long string of attempts by identity thieves posing as the IRS in hopes of tricking people into providing valuable personal information to steal identities and money, including tax refunds,' said Commissioner Danny Werfel. 
The IRS warned that scammers are targeting Americans through special mailings - as well as by email and text message. 
Werfel added: 'People should be careful to watch out for red flags that clearly mark these as IRS scams.'
A key warning sign that indicates the letters are fake, the IRS said, are awkwardly-worded requests with poor grammar. 
For example, the letter asks for 'A Clear Phone of Your Driver's License That Clearly Displays All Four (4) Angles, https://www.servicekomputerpanggilantangerang.com Taken in a Place with Good Lighting.'
The letter claims it needs this as 'filing information' for the alleged unclaimed refund. 
'These Must Be Given to a Filing Agent Who Will Help You Submit Your Unclaimed Property Claim,' the phony letter reads.

'Once You Send All The Information Please Try to Be Checking Your Email for Response From The Agents Thanks.'
The IRS points out that it deals with tax refunds, not 'unclaimed property', and the letter also includes inaccurate information on tax return deadlines. 
The agency does contact taxpayers through regular mail delivered by the US Postal Service, but it will never initiate contact with taxpayers via email, text or social media. 
It warns taxpayers and tax professionals should be alert to fake communications and never click on any unsolicited messages or links. 
It comes as. 
Typically, there is a three-year deadline to claim refunds before the cash becomes property of the US Treasury, but the Government extended the deadline for 2019 rebates amid the Covid-19 pandemic. 
Taxpayers have until July 17 to claim their share of almost $1.5 billion in unclaimed funds

According to the IRS, Texans are owed the most, with an estimated 135,000 residents in the state sitting on an average of $924 - totaling $142,235,200.
The state-by-state breakdown calculated by the agency shows that California has the second highest sum of possible refunds, with a total of $141,780,000 potentially owed to 144,700 people.
Florida comes in third, with a median projected refund of $893 for 89,300 residents.
To find more information about whether you are owed a rebate, visit the .