Don’t get fooled by the latest fraud scams. Bad actors are increasingly upping their game, so we have to study the playbook as well.
Unfortunately, tax time is prime time for fraudsters, as Schwab’s latest article warns. One important tip to remember is that “the IRS will contact taxpayers by mail first; it does not initiate contact via unexpected phone, call, voicemail, text, email, or social media.” Read more: Tax time is prime time for fraudsters
Scammers use all these communication channels to not only impersonate the IRS around tax time, but to “phish” for data all the time using AI technology, such as chatbots, voice cloning and deepfakes. They turn our anxieties, fears, or interests into fraud opportunities.
There are steps we can take in our daily lives before – and after – a compromising event. Your financial professionals can help.