Tax Scams on the Rise as Filing Season Begins

Cybersecurity experts warn of impersonation attempts and other tactics to steal sensitive information

Apr. 8, 2026 at 6:04pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a crumpled tax form or envelope lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, creating a stark, gritty, investigative aesthetic that conceptually illustrates the threat of tax-related scams.As tax season begins, a wave of scams targeting sensitive financial data exposes the risks of falling for urgent-sounding impersonation attempts.Kansas City Today

As tax season gets underway, scammers are ramping up efforts to target Americans with a variety of tax-related scams. An estimated one in four people have fallen victim to these schemes, with the average loss around $1,000 per incident. Cybersecurity experts advise consumers to be on the lookout for impersonation attempts, phishing emails, and other tactics used by scammers to steal sensitive information like Social Security numbers and bank details.

Why it matters

Tax season is a prime time for scammers to take advantage of people, as many are focused on filing their returns and may be more vulnerable to deception. These scams can result in significant financial losses for victims and expose them to identity theft and other fraud. Raising awareness about common tactics used by scammers is crucial to help protect consumers.

The details

Scammers may impersonate the IRS through text messages, emails, or phone calls, asking victims to 'verify' or 'confirm' their personal information in order to receive a refund or pay a supposed tax bill. However, the IRS will only ever initiate contact via traditional mail, never through unsolicited digital communications. Scammers also often try to create a sense of urgency to pressure people into providing sensitive data quickly.

  • Tax season typically runs from January through April each year.

The players

Abhishek Karnik

The head of threat research for cybersecurity company McAfee.

McAfee

A cybersecurity company that has reported on the prevalence of tax-related scams, estimating that one in four Americans have fallen victim with an average loss of $1,000.

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What they’re saying

“It's an extremely enticing time for scammers to try to go searching for victims.”

— Abhishek Karnik, Head of Threat Research

“A lot of sensitive information [is] at stake...social security numbers, home addresses, bank information.”

— Abhishek Karnik, Head of Threat Research

“The IRS will never contact you via phone call, text or email. At least they won't initiate it. So snail mail is how they contact you.”

— Abhishek Karnik, Head of Threat Research

“You need to slow down, take some time, re-analyze the situation and proceed.”

— Abhishek Karnik, Head of Threat Research

What’s next

Consumers who believe they have been the victim of a tax-related scam should report it to their bank and the IRS to mitigate any potential damage.

The takeaway

As tax season ramps up, it's crucial for consumers to be vigilant against a variety of scams targeting sensitive personal and financial information. Slowing down, verifying the legitimacy of any communications, and reporting suspicious activity can help protect against these costly schemes.