The IRS and Security Summit are issuing warnings to tax professionals and individuals to be wary of the various schemes scammers use to obtain business and taxpayer information. While many of these schemes have been around for a while, scammers are becoming more sophisticated. One common scheme involves scammers posing as new clients, and then sending malware and attachments to steal taxpayer information or gain access to the tax professional’s system.
In addition to the new client scheme, scammers can attempt to obtain EFINs, PTINs, CAF numbers, and more by posing as IRS agents and sending tax professionals emails or texts with links leading to a fake IRS website. With the stolen information, scammers can access taxpayers’ information through tax transcripts, subsequently defrauding taxpayers by filing false tax returns and redirecting refunds.
Taxpayers are also facing schemes where scammers call or text them to get their Social Security numbers, birth dates, and banking information. Through the use of AI, promises of tax credits, and false tax debt relief programs, scammers try to get this sensitive personal information for their nefarious purposes.
To read the full news release, click here.
