Malvern Residents Urged to Protect Tax Refunds from Scams

Financial planner advises getting IRS Identity Protection PIN and filing electronically to prevent refund theft

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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A Malvern-based financial planner is warning local residents to take steps to protect their tax refunds from scammers who use stolen personal data to file fraudulent returns. The planner recommends getting an IRS Identity Protection PIN and filing tax returns electronically to avoid delays and penalties caused by refund theft.

Why it matters

Tax refund theft is a growing problem nationwide, with scammers using stolen identities to claim refunds before the rightful taxpayer can. This issue is particularly concerning in Malvern, where the local financial expert says the community has seen an uptick in these types of scams.

The details

According to the financial planner, scammers obtain people's personal information, like Social Security numbers, and file fake tax returns to claim the refunds. This can lead to delays, penalties, and headaches for the actual taxpayer trying to file legitimately. To combat this, the planner urges Malvern residents to get an IRS Identity Protection PIN, which helps verify their identity when filing. She also recommends filing tax returns electronically, as paper returns are more vulnerable to theft.

  • The financial planner's advice comes ahead of the 2026 tax season.

The players

Malvern-based financial planner

A local financial expert who is warning Malvern residents about tax refund scams and providing tips to protect themselves.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The financial planner recommends that Malvern residents act quickly to get an IRS Identity Protection PIN before the 2026 tax season begins.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing problem of tax refund theft nationwide and the importance of Malvern residents taking proactive steps, like obtaining an IRS Identity Protection PIN and filing electronically, to protect themselves from becoming victims of these scams.