4 Common Post-Tax Season Scams and How To Avoid Them

Phone scams

The most common post-tax season scam is a phone call apparently from the IRS demanding payment. These fraudulent calls vary in their technique: some are very persuasive telling you that you have the ability to appeal (after you pay, of course) while others are more threatening with scare tactics of large fines and prison time. To make the whole scam even more convincing, fraudsters will spoof caller ID to make it seem like the phone call really is coming from the IRS. Often these kinds of scams target elderly people who might be more susceptible.

But there’s one key thing you have to know to avoid this kind of scam: the IRS never calls demanding immediate payment. The IRS also doesn’t use threats about legal action or police involvement – not unless you’ve been on the run for years. So, if you get any aggressive phone calls from scammers claiming to be the IRS, you can happily slam the phone down.

Phishing emails

Phishing emails have long been a favorite method for cybercriminals. Scammers can easily create emails that look as if they were sent by the IRS, with all the same language, logos, and images. This is designed to lure taxpayers into giving out personal information by getting them to click on a fake link. These IRS emails may tell you about your refunds or filing status and when you click on the link you’ll be taken to a fake page where unsuspecting victims will give away their personal details. However, the IRS doesn’t use email to discuss debts or refunds with taxpayers, so if you do receive an email claiming to be from the IRS be very wary.

The good news is that since phishing is such a common technique by scammers there are a lot of tips to avoid getting fooled. Using high-quality internet security that is designed to stop phishing attacks is a great idea, whether through a secure email service, like eM Client, or by using antivirus software, such as AVG Antivirus.

Identity theft