Tariff refund scam alert

Earlier today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6 – 3 ruling addressing the legality of certain Trump-era tariffs. While estimates suggest companies may seek billions of dollars in potential refunds, the decision provided no clear roadmap for any refund process. In fact, Justice Brett Kavanaugh acknowledged that any refund mechanism could become a “mess.”

Here’s what that means for consumers:

Periods of legal uncertainty like this create ideal conditions for scammers.

At Nomorobo, our fraud monitoring systems have seen this pattern repeatedly: whenever headlines mention large sums of money or potential government refunds, scammers move quickly. We expect to see a surge in fraudulent calls and texts promoting fake “tariff refund programs” targeting individuals.

Let us be clear:

• There is no official consumer tariff refund program currently in place.
• No legitimate agency is contacting individuals about tariff rebates.
• Any call or text promising immediate refunds is almost certainly a scam.

Fraudsters may:

• Claim you qualify for a “tariff relief payment”
• Ask you to verify personal or banking information
• Direct you to fake government-style websites
• Create urgency to “claim your refund before the deadline.”

How to protect yourself

• Do not click suspicious links.
• Do not provide personal or financial information.
• Be skeptical of unexpected refund offers.
• Remember: if it sounds too good to be true, it almost certainly is.

Nomorobo customers are protected against known scam campaigns through our continuously updated call and text blocking systems. If you use the Nomorobo Spam Text Blocker app, consider adding keywords like “tariff,” “refund,” or “rebate” to your personal block list for additional protection.

We’ll continue monitoring this situation closely and will alert you if an official, verified program is ever announced.

Stay informed. Stay skeptical. Stay protected.