- Phishing—Criminals impersonate reputable companies or government agencies via text, email or social media posts to try and get sensitive information, passwords, payment information or account details.
- Fraudulent phone calls—Scammers pretending to be the IRS calling to say you owe money for taxes. During these calls, scammers may try to get you to send money with a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer. They may also threaten you with arrest or other punishments if you don’t comply.
- Identity theft—Criminals illegally obtain your tax login information and use it to steal your personal and financial information. In some cases, scammers may file a fraudulent tax return, have a refund deposited in your account and demand you forward the money to their “collection agency.”
- Remember that the IRS will not contact you via email, social media or other digital channels.
- Pay attention to any missing tax documents, bills or expected letters that should’ve been delivered by mail, as this may be a sign of identity fraud.
- Create strong passwords to make it more difficult for criminals to gain access to your accounts.
- Don’t access tax-related documents over public Wi-Fi. Use a secure private network connection instead.
- Research accountants or tax preparers ahead of time to ensure they’re legitimate.
- Listen for threats. The IRS will not threaten to arrest, punish or deport you.