The tax season is a period when individuals and businesses submit their tax returns, which can result in cybercrimes targeting tax filings and refunds.
Individuals and businesses should be aware of several scams that occur during the tax season, including phishing, where scam artists send emails posing as the IRS.
These emails can be sophisticated in their design, including displaying fake deadlines and tax forms, and even using official-sounding language and a sense of urgency.
Scam artists may also make fake phone calls alleging that the recipient owes money to the IRS and asking for payment information.
Another scam, called smishing, uses text messages in a similar way.
In addition to these scams, there are also client outreach scams, wire transfer scams, and IRS impersonation scams, all of which can result in the theft of money and personal information.
Protection against these scams involves careful scrutiny of all correspondence, refusal to provide personal information or payment details in response to an unsolicited contact, and immediate end to any interaction that appears suspicious.
