Beware of Tax Season Scams: Protecting Yourself from Digital Deception

As April 15 approaches, taxpayers across the country are turning their attention to their impending tax obligations. Amidst this atmosphere, receiving an email purportedly offering a new tax-saving program from the IRS might catch the eye of many. However, such a reaction could lead to a costly mistake, as the link embedded in the email actually directs unsuspecting individuals to a gambling website. Unfortunately, this deception represents just one of the numerous tax-related scams infiltrating email inboxes as the tax deadline draws near.

In addition to the fraudulent tax-saving program scheme, another concerning scam has come to light. Victims are being informed via email that their 2023 tax payment was unsuccessful and are prompted to inspect tax receipts attached to the message. Clicking on these attachments, however, unwittingly installs malware onto the recipient's device. According to the ConsumerAffairs-Trend Micro Threat Alert, the research team identified 142 instances of such activity between February 14 and 20, underscoring the pervasive nature of these digital threats.

Jon Clay, the vice president of Threat Intelligence at Trend Micro, warns of the looming increase in tax-related scams as April 15 draws nearer. He emphasizes the importance of vigilance among consumers, advising against interacting with unsolicited messages containing tax information, whether through text or email. While security apps can provide a layer of protection, Clay stresses the necessity for individuals to exercise caution and skepticism when encountering such messages, given scammers' propensity to exploit routine events for their fraudulent activities. Alongside tax-related scams, phishing attempts impersonating reputable organizations like USAA, Apple, and T-Mobile are also on the rise, underscoring the need for individuals to verify the legitimacy of messages and refrain from responding to unsolicited communication.