Is the number "1-866-602-4279" legit? Received an email from "no-reply@e.turbotax.intuit.com"

[bills043]

I got an email today that said more than one account was using my information. I called that number and it was a bot that asked if I was calling about the email I received. I said yes, then it gave me 4 situations and said that if I fit any of those, I don't need to do anything. I didn't, and they told me a representative would call me back in 10-15 minutes. They asked for my first name and verified my phone and that was it. When the guy called back from [phone number removed] and checked my account and said no other accounts were using my info and didn't know about the email or why it was sent. About 15 minutes later I called the second number (the actual turbo tax customer service line ending in 8848) and got a second rep. She also checked and said no other accounts were using my social (which I didn't give), my phone, or address etccc that was on my personal account. There were, however, other people with the same name but they all had different info. All in all, I think the email was probably a phishing scam, but I didn't give them anything they couldn't have found online anyway. I also logged into my turbo account and it was in order with no weird things going on and no warnings posted. Both advisors I talked to said things appear to be fine at that end and that the message may have been sent out in error. I feel better, but still a bit freaked out. I also called back the number the email said to call again and when I said I was not calling about receiving an email, it went automatically to the turbo tax menu (i.e stimulus, delayed return, etc...) which appeared to be legitimate.   It is all just very strange.

[ascottdukes]

*UPDATE* - MY EMAIL WAS LEGIT AND I WAS VICTIM OF IDENTITY THEFT.

TLDR--Go to your INTUIT account --> Security --> Account Activity to view emails sent your account. If you see a "Unknown User, Unknown Device" (as in screenshot below) sent at the time you received the questionable email, it confirms the email is legit. Then you need to speak to a rep who understands what to do about it (this is harder than it looks, as you'll see below). In my case, I was victim of Identity Theft. 

Here's my timeline: 

• Received the exact same email as described from "no-reply@e.turbotax.intuit.com"
  • This email looks legitimate. I can click on the sender in my gmail, and see OTHER emails sent to me over the years from this same address, dating back to 2013 when I first used TurboTax. This same email address sent legitimate updates about my tax return progress. The last marketing email I received from this email address was March 2020. The last email I received was in September 2020 when I downloaded some old Tax Returns (which I did).
• Assuming the email was legit, I called the phone number listed in the Security Alert email -1-866-602-4279
  • Was taken to a phone tree, asked me to answer 4 questions relevant to the situation, (all "no") and then directed to a rep. 
  • A rep asked me for my name, email, and phone. I did not provide and asked if there was a way she could provide it back to me for my confirmation. She said no. 
  • I ended up ending this call because I figured I should check TurboTax website phone number. 
• Went to TurboTax website, and saw this (different) contact number: 1-800-446-8848
  • Was taken to a phone tree, did NOT have to answer those 4 questions, and was taken to a rep. 
  • The rep asked for my name, email, and phone. This time I DID provide because it was the phone number listed on TurboTax's website. I know this was a legit website. 
  • Asked the rep about the email, she asked me the email address I received it from. I said "@e.turbotax.intuit.com" 
  • She told me "THIS IS A SCAM." And that this scam has been happening "all week."
  • She said all emails from Turbotax should come from "turbotax.cg.intuit.com"
  • I said thanks and hung up. 
• However, I did not believe this because if I log into my TurboTax and check my Intuit Account Activity, this shows up, making the email appear legitimate.  
• I called AGAIN, talked to a different rep and was able to describe the above screenshot. That was what verified the fraudulent activity. Shout out to Alexis for actually understanding the problem. Free tip: they call it an "Account Deactivation" request.  You are essentially requesting the other account using your SSN be deactivated. 
  • Alexis stayed on the phone for an hour with me. There are like 10 steps, and there are long periods of holding where a TurboTax security team is doing something. I had to verify by uploading a picture of my Drivers License, etc. 
  • In the end, we were able to get the Account Deactivated. 
  • I will have to file my taxes in the mail this year and fill out a separate IRS form that she sent to me. 

I hope this helps. If you can confirm that you were sent the email by TurboTax (by going into your Intuit account > Security > Account Activity), then you know this is a real email. 

[TiffanyL]

Phishing is tricking someone for the purpose of stealing their info. The bait the phisher uses to reel you in is forged email. websites, or hyperlinks that look like the real thing. They'll ask for your Social Security number, driver's license, credit card, or bank account numbers. Please see the help article below if you believe you have received one of these:

Avoid phishing scams and spoofed sites

[bills043]

To follow up on my original message, once I called the 866 number they said someone would call me back. The return call came from the legit Turbo Tax number.  The person calling seemed not to know what I was calling about, so I told them the story. The checked using my info and found no other accounts.  Apparently they can check using your name, email, phone, last 4 of your social, etc.... I then waited a couple of days and called back two other times to the legit number and got the same responses. The final rep transferred me to the privacy team (or whatever they call it) and they were the most helpful but again, they did not know why the email had been sent and they also checked using my information and found nothing.  I'm still a bit nervous, but feel better after having those conversations.  I file very early so by the time I had received the letter I had already received my refund.  Will be interesting next January when I file again to see if there is an issue. Hope not.

[dw808]

Exactly! I received this email at 2:32 am EDT on a Saturday morning. That plus 48 hours is before any of the Intuit agents will be available to answer my call. And I live 6 hours behind that, so the earliest they are around to talk to is in the middle of the night for me. I sure hope the "48 hours" is Intuit Support business hours...

[Lizam383]

I just got an email like this. There is no reason to ever click or reply or call a number in an email if you are not 100% certain of legitimacy. Go to the source you are sure of and ask them. Go to TurboTax website. Find their customer number and talk to them. Go to their chat on the site. Use the resources you’re sure of first. Same with bank and credit card and insurance stuff. If I get a security email from them I go to the number on the back of my physical cards or my apps I have to login to. I never use the customer service number provided in the email. Go to the company itself and contact them to make sure your accounts are secure and in order. 

[Yobanoty11]

I want to know what happened to the my social security card no going thru 

[JoannaAdler]

EXACTLY! It certainly seems phishy AF when you call the number - it's a robotic voice & doesn't say Intuit, TurboTax, or anything remotely security related. 

It's bizarre that I can't go onto their site, log-on, & resolve this. Despite having filed online with them for the past 7 years, they wouldn't accept my request for support because I hadn't filed this year. I got married in 2021 & my husband used his TurboTax account to file a joint return. They could easily have sent me a confirmation request or allowed me to resolve by logging into my account.

I'm out of the country so it's a major pita. I tried calling when I saw the message and it answered & immediately hung up. I only have 24 hours before they reject the return. 🤬

[xmasbaby0]

@JoannaAdler If you got married in 2021, and you and your spouse filed a joint return, then you are done.  What return do you think is going to be rejected?   If you put all of your information and income on a joint return with your spouse, it does not matter that you used your spouse's account.   You do not file your "own" return if you filed jointly.

We do not know exactly  what emails you are referring to since you have added to a long thread with posts from multiple users.  But if your 2021 return has been filed you can ignore any calls or emails regarding your account or messages about filing for 2021.

[JoannaAdler]

[JoannaAdler]

I got an email that said my husband's (which is also my return because of filing jointly) would be rejected if I didn't call within 24 hours. I called last night & it seemed phishy. So this morning I called again, but the phone tree hung up saying I hadn't filed a return. That's when I came looking to see if it was a legit number.

I called AGAIN after seeing it is. After spending 10 minutes asking for a representative, the robot finally let me through. BTW, the tree says it will respond with the reason my return is being rejected - BUT THE EMAIL EXPLAINING WHY I was rejected says to call this number. 🤬🙄

But even when I finally got a live person - who was super nice - she had no clue about the email I received. She looked at my husband's account and could see he also called, but has no idea how to fix the problem. She's escalating.

I get *why* I got the email - because someone could have fraudulently used my social. But to send an email asking you to call in, but then saying they will send you the reason for rejection (which is the SAME email I previously got) is an eternal loop. 🤷‍♀️

[Thomas Kenney79]

no

[Thomas Kenney79]

no  

[HopeS]

Suspicious emails or calls can sometimes be a scheme to get you to share your personal info. These scams come in different forms but often look pretty convincing. Here are a few things to look for if you’re not sure an email came from Intuit.

• We’ll never ask for your personal info in an email or on a phone call
• Our emails will always come from an email address that ends with @intuit.com. This includes @e.intuit.com.
• Any link we send you in an email will always be for an intuit.com address.

Please check out  other TurboTax online security tips in the link below:

Online Security Tips

@Thomas Kenney79

[JStuckles]

I'm in Mexico and can't get the e-file to work.  I end up in an endless do loop.  I can't reach your US phone.

Any suggestions?

John S. S.

[email address removed]