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Tips to help spot tax fraud and related scams

Help protect yourself from tax scams

IRS notices typically come by mail and give you time to review or appeal before paying. Report any IRS communication that seems suspicious.

Contact the IRS

Phishing scams often pretend to be the IRS in order to steal personal or financial information. Be cautious of messages that promise benefits, demand payment, or ask you to verify details.

If you get an unexpected email or text claiming to be from the IRS, do not reply, click links, or open attachments as they may be harmful. The IRS will not contact you this way or ask for personal information by text or email.

Scammers may pose as the IRS, using spoofed caller IDs and demanding payment via gift cards, crypto, prepaid cards, or wires.

The IRS will not call, email, text, or reach out to you on social media requesting payment or personal information, or threaten arrest or deportation. If you owe taxes, you will be notified by mail first and given time to review or appeal.

If a caller pressures you, offers help getting money, or asks for account details, hang up, even if they seem to know some of your info. If you are unsure whether a call is real, contact the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, TIGTA, at 1-800-366-4484 or visit www.tigta.gov to verify or report the call.

Scammers may create fake search results or websites using phishing emails, texts, or search results to trick customers into entering sensitive information. When filing taxes or visiting IRS resources, use IRS.gov or a verified, trusted tax provider. Avoid links in unexpected messages and type the website address directly as fake ads and look-alike sites can appear at the top of search results.

Pro tip: Be careful using AI tools to help file your taxes. Avoid entering personal or tax information into AI chatbots as these platforms may not be secure and may expose your data.

Scammers may try to steal your tax refund by filing a return in your name or claiming a refund was sent by mistake.

Common tactics include:

  • Filing a fake return and pressuring you to return the refund.
  • Pretending to be IRS collectors who ask you to send back an accidental deposit.
  • Threatening arrest or legal action unless you send money immediately.

If you received an erroneous refund, find out how to legally return it.

To lower your risk:

  • Use strong, unique passwords for tax software.
  • File early to prevent others from filing in your name.
  • Only share your Social Security Number when absolutely necessary.
  • Shred documents that contain personal information.
  • Avoid storing personal or account details on your devices.
  • Check your credit report regularly. Wells Fargo Online customers can use Credit Close-Up®, and free reports are available at AnnualCreditReport.com.
  • Consider requesting an IRS Identity Protection PIN to help stop someone from filing a return with your Social Security Number.
For more information about the latest scams, review the IRS' "Dirty Dozen" tax scams, and Wells Fargo's Avoid common threats and scams.

"Ways to tell if the IRS is reaching out or if it's a scammer" IRS Tax Tip (2025-46), July 8 2025.

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