Don’t get tricked into giving out your personal information!
These are intended to alert the community about various scams and schemes. The following listed are only some scams, as there are many others that are circulating.
Scam warning signs
Unsolicited Contact: Genuine tax authorities do not initiate contact via email, text messages, or social media. Be wary if you receive unexpected calls or messages claiming to be from the IRS or state tax agencies.
Threatening Language: Scammers often use aggressive tactics, threatening arrest, license suspension, or immediate legal action to pressure you into paying or revealing personal information.
Demand for Immediate Payment: Legitimate agencies will not demand instant payment through unusual methods like gift cards, prepaid debit cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
Requests for Personal Information: Be cautious if you are asked to provide sensitive information such as Social Security numbers, bank account details, or passwords over the phone or online.
Suspicious Payment Methods: The IRS and most tax agencies do not accept payments via money orders sent through mail or payments instructed to be made to third parties.
Caller ID Spoofing: Scammers may manipulate caller ID to make it appear as if they're calling from an official government number.
Emails with Attachments or Links: Phishing emails are designed to steal your data or infect your computer with malware. Avoid clicking links or downloading attachments from unknown sources.
Promises of Large Refunds: Be skeptical of anyone promising unusually large tax refunds or claiming they can change your tax return regardless of your actual filing status.
Errors and Poor Grammar: Official correspondence tends to be formal and error-free. Misspellings, grammatical mistakes, or awkward phrasing can indicate a scam.
Verification Procedures: Official agencies provide options to verify their identity, such as official websites or callback numbers. If you cannot verify the source, proceed cautiously.
If you suspect a tax scam, report it to the IRS or your state tax agency immediately and consult with a qualified tax professional.
Steps to protect yourself
Stay Informed: Regularly update yourself on the latest scams through trusted sources like government websites, consumer protection agencies, and financial institutions.
Verify Identities: Always confirm the identity of anyone contacting you unexpectedly, especially if they ask for personal or financial information. Use official contact information rather than information provided in the message.
Be Skeptical of Urgency: Scammers often pressure victims to act quickly to avoid missing out or facing consequences. Take time to think and verify before responding.
Protect Personal Information: Never share sensitive data such as Social Security numbers, bank account details, or passwords unless you are certain of the recipient’s legitimacy.
Use Strong, Unique Passwords: Protect your online accounts with strong passwords and change them regularly. Enable two-factor authentication where available.
Beware of Unsolicited Offers: If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be cautious of unexpected emails or calls offering prizes, loans, or investment opportunities.
Check for Secure Websites: When entering personal data online, ensure the website URL starts with "https://" and look for a padlock icon in the address bar.
Monitor Financial Statements: Regularly review your bank and credit card statements for unauthorized transactions and report suspicious activity immediately.
Use Security Software: Install and maintain updated antivirus and anti-malware software on your devices to prevent infections from malicious links or downloads.
Report Scams: If you suspect a scam, report it to the appropriate authorities such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), local police, or the Better Business Bureau.
Resources
Scams
➜ IRS Dirty Dozen: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/dirty-dozen
➜ Scams + Fraud (IRS): https://www.irs.gov/help/tax-scams/recognize-tax-scams-and-fraud
➜ Scams (FTB): https://www.ftb.ca.gov/help/scams/index.html
Report
➜ Report Fraud (IRS): https://www.irs.gov/help/report-fraud
➜ Report Fraud (FTB): https://www.ftb.ca.gov/help/scams/tax-fraud.html
Protect Your Information
We keep our webpage up-to-date with important updates regarding the latest news and information on current scams circulating and how to report them if they happen to you or someone you know.
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