Phishing and Smishing Scams

During the holidays, phishing emails and smishing text messages increase sharply. These are common forms of online tax fraud, where scammers send messages that appear to come from the IRS, tax software providers, or your employer’s payroll department.

These communications often warn of issues with your tax refund status, missed deadlines, or “verified account problems,” and urge you to click links or submit sensitive data.

What makes these scams dangerous is how realistic they can look. Email addresses may appear official, and logos are often copied from legitimate websites. However, the IRS never initiates contact by email or text about tax issues. Clicking a link in these messages can redirect you to a fake site designed to steal login credentials or install malware on your device.

To protect yourself, do not click on unexpected links, especially those related to refunds or notices. Instead, go directly to official IRS websites or trusted tax filing software portals by typing the URL manually into your browser.