Written by Chris Warner, Cybersecurity Intern
With the deadline for filing a tax return approaching on the 15th, scammers are eager to capitalize on taxpayers’ urgency. In a recent campaign, scammers emailed a link to a phony website pretending to be the receiver’s tax returns. The site uses a blurred “spreadsheet” and official IRS images to bait the recipient into clicking a “download documents” button that downloads malware and allows the user to enter confidential information. To avoid tax scams like these, always double-check the sender’s email address, avoid clicking links on unverified emails, and never share sensitive data via email. The IRS will never initiate a request for financial and personal information over email, phone calls, text messages, or social media messages!
This is just one example of the tax scams that run rampant during this season. Protect yourself, your personal information, and your possible refund!