ANCHOR Scam Texts: How to Spot and Report Them
Scammers send fake ANCHOR texts with links to 'claim your payment.' Learn what the NJ Division of Taxation will never ask for and how to report a scam.
Quick answer
I got a text about my ANCHOR payment. Is it real?
Almost certainly not. The NJ Division of Taxation does not send text messages with links about ANCHOR payments — it communicates by mailed letter. Any text saying your payment is “on hold,” needs to be “claimed,” or requires you to “verify” bank or Social Security details through a link is a phishing scam. Don’t click; verify only at nj.gov or by calling 1-888-238-1233.
Key takeaways
- The state communicates about ANCHOR by mailed letters — not texts with links, robocalls, or WhatsApp.
- Applying and checking status is free; anyone charging a fee or offering to “expedite” is a scammer.
- The state already has your details from your application — it never texts you to “re-verify” SSNs or bank logins.
- Real state URLs end in nj.gov. Lookalikes (nj-gov.com, anchor-nj.net, njgov-relief.info…) are fakes.
- Report scam texts: forward to 7726, report at reportfraud.ftc.gov, and delete.
On this page
How the ANCHOR text scam works
Scammers time waves of texts to payment season, when hundreds of thousands of residents are genuinely waiting on money. The script varies, the mechanics don’t:
- A text arrives claiming to be “NJ Treasury,” “ANCHOR Program,” or “NJ Division of Taxation”: your payment is approved / on hold / undeliverable, and you must act via a link.
- The link opens a convincing clone of a state website — logo, colors, official language — on a non-nj.gov domain.
- The fake site asks for exactly what a thief needs: Social Security number, date of birth, driver’s license, bank login or card numbers, sometimes a “small verification fee.”
- The data is used for identity theft, drained accounts, or filing fraudulent benefit claims in your name.
Email versions of the same scam exist, as do phone calls — especially targeting seniors during the PAS-1 season.
Real state contact vs. scam, side by side
| The real Division of Taxation | Scammers | |
|---|---|---|
| Channel | Mailed letters; responses to inquiries you initiated | Unsolicited texts, robocalls, WhatsApp, social media DMs |
| Links | Directs you to type nj.gov addresses | Shortened or lookalike links you must tap |
| What they ask for | Nothing by text — identity checks happen inside the official portal | SSN, bank logins, card numbers, “verification fees” |
| Tone | Deadlines stated in letters, weeks in advance | Urgency: “within 24 hours,” “final notice” |
| Money | Everything is free | Fees, gift cards, crypto, “processing charges” |
Got a suspicious text? Do this
- Don’t click the link — even “just to look.”
- Don’t reply, including “STOP” — it confirms your number is live.
- Forward it to 7726 (SPAM) so your carrier can block the sender.
- Report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov; NJ residents can also report cyber incidents to the NJCCIC.
- Delete it.
- Curious whether something real is waiting? Type nj.gov/treasury/taxation/anchor yourself and use the status tool — never the text’s link.
Already clicked or entered information?
Move fast — damage control in the first hours matters:
- Entered bank or card details: call your bank/card issuer now, report compromise, and have cards reissued. Watch statements daily for a while.
- Entered your SSN: freeze your credit with all three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) — it’s free — and file a recovery plan at IdentityTheft.gov.
- Entered state login credentials: change that password everywhere you reused it and enable two-factor authentication.
- Only clicked, entered nothing: you’re probably fine — don’t install anything the page offered, and run a malware scan if it prompted a download.
- Consider alerting the Division (1-888-238-1233) if you exposed information tied to your benefit, so a fraud flag can be noted.
Protecting older family members
- Tell them plainly: the state never texts about ANCHOR — real contact comes by mail.
- Bookmark the official status page on their devices so there’s never a reason to tap a link.
- Offer to be their second set of eyes: “forward me anything about tax relief before acting.”
- During PAS-1 season, help them file through official channels — scammers specifically exploit the confusion of a new form.
Frequently asked questions
Does the NJ Division of Taxation ever text residents at all?
The Division’s ANCHOR-related communications are by mailed letter (and email only in limited, expected contexts like a filing confirmation you initiated). It does not send texts asking you to click links, verify identity, or provide banking information. Treat any such text as fraudulent.
The text knew my name and town. Doesn't that mean it's real?
No. Names, towns, and phone numbers circulate together in leaked marketing and breach data. Personalization is cheap for scammers and proves nothing — judge the message by what it asks you to do, not what it knows.
I got an email about ANCHOR — same rules?
Same rules. Check the sender domain (real state mail comes from nj.gov addresses), never click through to enter credentials or bank details, and when in doubt go directly to the official site or call 1-888-238-1233.
Are there fake ANCHOR 'filing help' websites too?
Yes — sites that charge for “filing assistance” or harvest applications that never reach the state. Filing is free, directly at nj.gov, and free legitimate help exists at Division regional centers, libraries, and senior centers. (This site explains programs but never takes applications or personal data.)
Sources
This guide was fact-checked against the following official sources:
- ANCHOR Program — NJ Division of Taxation
- NJCCIC — Report a Cyber Incident — New Jersey Cybersecurity & Communications Integration Cell
- Report Fraud — Federal Trade Commission
Last reviewed · See our editorial policy for how guides are fact-checked and corrected.
What changed on this page
- — Initial publication, verified against NJ Division of Taxation guidance for the 2025 benefit year (PAS-1 deadline November 2, 2026).
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NJ Programs Editorial Team · Research & Editorial
The editorial team researches, writes, and maintains every guide on this site, checking each fact against official NJ Division of Taxation publications before and after publication.