Another tip in a series provided by the Offices of Information Security, Information Systems & Computing and Audit, Compliance & Privacy

Tax season has arrived in the United States and, unfortunately, so have scams targeting tax filers.

Scammers target tax filers with emails that seem to come from financial applications such as Mint or QuickBooks but are attempts to steal personal financial information like Social Security numbers or bank information. Always confirm any emails requesting financial information from the company website and not by clicking any links in emails.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) does not initiate contact with taxpayers by phone, email, or text. If the IRS needs to contact a taxpayer, it usually begins by sending a letter by postal mail. If you get a call, email, or text claiming to be from the IRS, do not click on any links in the communication or provide any personal information. Instead, hang up and contact the IRS by using contact information found on the main IRS webpage at irs.gov. If you are confused by an IRS notice sent to you, we recommend navigating to the IRS page, which has a section on understanding IRS notices and letters.

The IRS also does not request payment via email, text, or phone calls. It will not ask for pre-paid debit cards, gift cards, or checks made payable to parties other than the IRS. The IRS does not take Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies as payment. It will not leave threatening messages or tell you that law enforcement is coming to arrest you. If payment is due and you cannot afford to pay, you can make payment arrangements with the IRS directly.

Do not let your concern about filing taxes cause you to be scammed!

Internal Revenue Service website: irs.gov

Information on IRS Notices and Letters: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-irs-notice-or-letter

Report phishing to the IRS: https://www.irs.gov/privacy-disclosure/report-phishing

Information on tax scams and consumer alerts: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-scamsconsumer-alerts

For additional tips, see the One Step Ahead link on the Information Security website: https://www.isc.upenn.edu/security/news-alerts#One-Step-Ahead