Forgot Password reset url in email has duplicate url

I'm not sure the reason, but the email that SA sends out when a user resets their password, isn't working because it has the url in their twice. But only when using it in an anchor tag.

Here's the html in the forgotpassword_email.php file.

<p>Your username and password were requested from our website.  You will be required to re-set your password to gain access to the site.  Please use the following link to access your <a href="[*return_url*]">password update</a>.  You may also copy and paste the following URL into your browser:</p>
  <p><strong>URL:</strong> [*return_url*]</p>

Where [*return_url*] is used by itself, the full url is display correctly. Like this. https://www.domainname.com/account/forgotpassword.php?fp_id=1&fp_email=user%40useremail.com&fp_data=123randomstringhere123

However, if I try to include it in an anchor like this <a href="[*return_url*]">password update</a>, the link includes this https://www.domainname.comhttps://www.domainname.com/account/forgotpassword.php?fp_id=1&fp_email=user%40useremail.com&fp_data=123randomstringhere123

I'm not sure what I have going wrong here. Where should I start looking? I'll attach the version of the helper_php.php file I have.

Thanks,
TroyD