Income Tax Filing Season Scams

As filing season starts, cyber scammers are trying new tactics to steal personal financial information from taxpayers.

One type of e-mail message tells folks that their returns will be audited. The sender purports to be IRS and directs recipients to click on links that give senders access to their computers and their personal data. If you receive one of these phony notices, don't fall for it. Forward the solicitation to phishing@irs.gov and then delete the message.

Phone scammers are hard at work as well, saying that they need your bank account information to directly deposit the upcoming tax rebate.

Don't be fooled. The IRS never contacts taxpayers via an unsolicited phone-call or email.