IRS imitators prey on Kansas taxpayers in 2024

TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) – Scammers are using new tricks in 2024 to trick Kansans out of their hard-earned cash.

The Internal Revenue Service keeps a list annually of the “worst of the worst” scams people can face during tax season. Dubbed the “Dirty Dozen,” this list serves as a warning to taxpayers of the pitfalls they can encounter and how to avoid becoming a scam victim.

Kicking off this year’s Dirty Dozen list, the IRS says phishing and smishing scams are becoming more sophisticated. Generally, these scams involve attempts to get people to click on suspicious links, leading to demands for personal or financial information or resulting in the download of malicious computer viruses. However, a growing number of these scams now involve impersonating the IRS itself.

“Scammers are relentless in their attempts to obtain sensitive financial and personal information, and impersonating the IRS remains a favorite tactic,” IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said. “People can be anxious to get the latest information about their refund or other tax issues, so scammers frequently try using the IRS as a way to trick people. The IRS urges people to be extra cautious about unsolicited messages and avoid clicking any links in an unsolicited email or text if they are uncertain.”

Phishing and smishing reach a fever pitch during tax season as scammers send email and text scams to potential victims. Taxpayers are warned to stay alert for false communications from scammers posing as legitimate financial and tax organizations. You might see these scam attempts come in the form of unsolicited texts or emails. Detailed descriptions of these scams can be found below:

Phishing – Consists of emails sent from scammers claiming to be with the IRS. Scammers try to lure potential victims into the scam by offering a phony tax refund or making threats of legal or criminal charges for tax fraud.

Smishing – Texts or smartphone SMS messages. Scammers rely on shocking language such as “your account has now been put on hold” to force potential victims to click on a suspicious link. Unexpected tax refunds can be another avenue used by scammers to target taxpayers.

The IRS says you should never click on links from those claiming to be with the IRS as it could contain malware. This might also allow scammers to load ransomware onto your devices.

To avoid being scammed, the IRS encourages taxpayers to enable two-factor or multi-factor authentication with their email provider. You should also verify the identity of the sender through a different communication method, such as calling a verified number.

Taxpayers can report unsolicited email scams claiming to be from the IRS by sending an email to [email protected]. Those who lost money due to an IRS-related scam can make a report to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and/or the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). You can also report scams to the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

The Kansas Attorney General’s Office maintains a list of helpful resources for scam victims. You can learn more about these resources and how to make reports by clicking here.