According to the Internal Revenue Service, tax scams tend to increase during tax season and/or times of crisis. Stay alert to potentially fraudulent activities and be suspicious of unsolicited communications. We’ve outlined some of the most common scams to be aware of below.

Phishing and text message scams

Phishing and text message scams usually involve unsolicited emails or text messages that seem to come from legitimate IRS sites to convince you to provide personal or financial information. Once scam artists obtain this information, they use it to commit identity or financial theft. The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text message or any social media platform to request personal or financial information. The IRS initiates most contacts through regular mail delivered by the United States Postal Service.

Phone scams

Phone scams typically involve a phone call from someone claiming that you owe money to the IRS, or you're entitled to a large refund. The calls may show up as coming from the IRS on your caller ID, be accompanied by fake emails that appear to be from the IRS or involve follow-up calls from individuals saying they are from law enforcement. These scams often target more vulnerable populations and will use scare tactics.

Tax-related identity theft

Tax-related identity theft occurs when someone uses your Social Security number to claim a fraudulent tax refund. You may not even realize you've been the victim of identity theft until you file your tax return and discover that a return has already been filed using your Social Security number. The IRS may also send you a letter indicating it has identified a suspicious return using your Social Security number. To help prevent tax-related identity theft, the IRS now offers the Identity Protection PIN Opt-In Program. The Identity Protection PIN is a six-digit code that is known only to you and the IRS, and it helps the IRS verify your identity when you file your tax return.

Tax preparer fraud

Scam artists will sometimes pose as legitimate tax preparers and try to take advantage of unsuspecting taxpayers by committing refund fraud or identity theft. Be wary of any tax preparer who won't sign your tax return (sometimes referred to as a "ghost preparer"), requires a cash-only payment, claims fake deductions/tax credits, directs refunds into his or her own account, or promises an unreasonably large or inflated refund. A legitimate tax preparer will generally ask for proof of your income and eligibility for credits and deductions, sign the return as the preparer, enter a valid preparer tax identification number and provide you with a copy of your return. It's important to choose a tax preparer carefully because you are legally responsible for what's on your return, even if it's prepared by someone else.

Protecting yourself from scams

Fortunately, there are some things you can do to help protect yourself from scams, including those that target taxpayers:

• Don't click on suspicious or unfamiliar links in emails, text messages or instant messaging services—visit government websites directly for important information.
• Don't answer a phone call if you don't recognize the phone number—instead, let it go to voicemail and check later to verify the caller.
• Never download email attachments unless you can verify that the sender is legitimate.
• Keep device and security software up to date, maintain strong passwords and use multi-factor authentication.
• Never share personal or financial information via email, text message or over the phone.

If you’ve believe you’ve been the victim of fraud on a Busey account, contact our Customer Care team or visit a local service center immediately.