10 scams you should watch out for this tax season, and how to avoid them

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November 15, 2018 9:44 PM

Business Insider spoke with three CPAs to get the inside scoop on scams to watch out for this tax season.

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Bogus, aggressive phone calls demanding payment and "phishy" emails taking you to scam sites are still the most prevalent scams, but there are some new tactics, and some lesser-known scams to be wary of too.
Business Insider spoke with three CPAs to get the inside scoop on

1. Phishing emails

1. Phishing emails BusinessInsider

IRS

2. Phone calls from the "IRS"

2. Phone calls from the "IRS" BusinessInsider

Elkins' Tax Guide 2019 Edition

IRS

Fairness or Folly: A Real World Guide to the Temporary Tax Reform of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

IRS does not do anything immediate collect the money owed

3. Using your Social Security number to file a tax return and steal your refund

3. Using your Social Security number to file a tax return and steal your refund BusinessInsider

Whether criminals have gotten your information from hacking, data breaches, or by using a phishing email that you fell for, if they have your social security number and other vital data about you, they can file a return in your name, according to Lindsey. "The scammers often get the refund put onto prepaid debit cards instead of being deposited in bank accounts because it's a lot harder to trace once the payment has been made," Lindsey said.

4. Fees based on your return amount

4. Fees based on your return amount BusinessInsider

5. Pop-up tax preparers

5. Pop-up tax preparers BusinessInsider

6. Harvesting information from hotspot or public WiFi networks

6. Harvesting information from hotspot or public WiFi networks BusinessInsider

a VPN

7. Prize and trip email scams

7. Prize and trip email scams BusinessInsider

download malicious software

8. Tricking businesses to release data

8. Tricking businesses to release data BusinessInsider

9. Tax preparers getting hacked

9. Tax preparers getting hacked BusinessInsider

Because there are more robust identity theft filters in place, criminals are specifically targeting tax professionals with phishing emails posing as the IRS or software companies.The IRS warns

10. Fake tax bills through the mail