This Tax Season, Scammers Are Using AI And Social Media To Steal Your Money

Tax season is a prime time for criminals to raid checking and savings accounts, divert refunds, and steal enough personal data to open new accounts in your name. It is especially important to guard every request for this information during tax season. Knowing how the most common scams work is the first step to shutting them down.

How crooks use your information

Scammers look for details, such as your name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, and bank routing and account numbers, to either pull money directly from existing accounts or create new ones they control. Once they have those pieces, they can file fake tax returns, set up automatic withdrawals, or apply for credit and other banking products without your knowledge.

AI-enhanced impostor calls

Scammers increasingly use AI voice tools to sound like polished agents from official-sounding “tax resolution” or “oversight” departments, claiming you owe back taxes or qualify for a special relief program. They may pressure you to “confirm” your bank account and routing numbers or pay immediately via wire transfer, card, or payment app—information that can be used to drain accounts or open new ones.

The IRS and regulators note that legitimate tax agencies do not demand immediate payment via prepaid card, wire transfer, or payment app, nor threaten arrest over the phone.

Protect your information:

• Hang up on unsolicited tax calls, then contact the IRS or your financial institution using a verified number from a statement or official website.
• Never give full account numbers, Social Security numbers, or one-time passcodes to someone who called you first.
• Report scam calls to the Federal Trade Commission or the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
  

Social media tax “tips”

The IRS has repeatedly flagged bad tax advice on social media as a growing problem. Posts and videos may urge you to claim credits you don’t qualify for, file with fake income, or share documents online in exchange for “free help,” putting your sensitive information directly in scammers’ hands.

These schemes can delay or block your real refund and lead to audits, penalties, or even criminal charges if the return is fraudulent, even if you followed someone else’s “tip.”

Stay safe online:

• Treat social media tax content as a starting point at best and verify it using official IRS guidance or a trusted tax professional.
• Never upload W‑2s, 1099s, bank statements, or ID images to sites or apps you don’t know and trust.
• Remember: if a refund “hack” sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Phishing emails and texts

Phishing emails, texts, and direct messages often claim to be from the IRS, your credit union, or a tax software company, warning of a problem with your return or promising a bigger refund if you “verify” your information. The links lead to fake websites that capture your usernames, passwords, and bank details, or install malware that can harvest data from your device.

The IRS and consumer agencies are clear: The IRS will not contact you by email, text, or social media to request PINs, passwords, or bank or credit card numbers related to your taxes or refunds.

Protect your accounts:

• Delete unexpected tax- or refund-related messages that ask you to click a link or share personal data.
• Access your bank or tax software only through bookmarked sites or official apps, not links in messages,
• Enable two-factor authentication so stolen passwords alone can’t unlock your accounts.

Fraudulent tax preparers

Dishonest preparers have access to everything criminals want: your identity details and your bank information for direct deposit. The IRS warns about “ghost” preparers who refuse to sign returns, falsify income or credits to inflate refunds, or direct refunds to their own accounts.

Red flags include preparers who base fees on the size of your refund, require cash only, won’t give you a copy of your return, or insist the refund go to an account you don’t control.

Protect your refund and accounts:

• Choose a preparer with a professional credential or strong track record and make sure they sign the return and include their Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN).
• Review the return line by line and confirm the refund is set to be deposited into an account in your name, with the correct routing and account numbers.
• Ask how your records are stored, who can access them, and when they are destroyed.

Misleading tax relief offers

Radio, TV, and online ads often promote companies that claim they can “wipe out” tax debt or enroll you in special settlement programs. The IRS warns about “offer in compromise mills” that charge high upfront fees for something many people can request directly from the IRS, if they qualify at all.

Some relief outfits aggressively collect detailed financial and banking information early in the process, then fail to deliver on their promises or safeguard the data they’ve collected. Instead, they create new risks of identity theft.

Protect yourself and your data:

• Be wary of guarantees to settle tax debt “for pennies on the dollar” or pressure to sign up immediately.
• Check the company with state regulators, the Better Business Bureau, or a trusted advisor before sharing sensitive information.
• Explore official IRS payment plans or offers in compromise directly on IRS.gov before paying a third party.

Everyday practices protect your accounts

Simple habits go a long way toward keeping tax-season scams out of your checking and savings accounts:

• File as early as you can so thieves have less time to submit a fake return in your name.
• Use secure home or cellular networks, not public Wi‑Fi, when accessing tax or banking accounts.
• Shred unneeded tax and bank documents. Store what you must keep in a locked or otherwise secure place.
• Monitor accounts and credit reports regularly and place a fraud alert or credit freeze if you suspect your information has been exposed.

Every extra layer of caution makes it harder for criminals to pose as you, move your money, or open accounts in your name. These and the other tips here help ensure your refund is deposited in your institution. For more information on protecting your accounts and accessing your banking services securely, visit our website.