{"id":226826,"date":"2026-03-03T05:00:52","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T13:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/?p=226826"},"modified":"2026-03-03T11:53:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T19:53:11","slug":"tax-season-scams-2026-red-flags-irs-impersonation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/tax-season-scams-2026-red-flags-irs-impersonation\/","title":{"rendered":"Tax Scams Hit Nearly 1 in 4 Adults. Spot the Red Flags"},"content":{"rendered":"

John C.\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0the person you picture getting scammed.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He\u2019s\u00a036.\u00a0He\u2019s\u00a0tech-savvy.\u00a0He\u2019s\u00a0a mechanical engineer leading a team at a national energy lab in Denver. And he told us his story for one reason: \u201cScammers will target anyone.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It began with a phone call from someone claiming to be the IRS. They said John had underpaid his taxes and needed to resolve it quickly. The caller sounded polished and convincing, so convincing that John\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0stop\u00a0to question\u00a0it.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI thought maybe they sent back too much money [in my refund], and they needed it back,\u201d he said. \u201cI was just so busy and overwhelmed that I never really stopped to think about the situation.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A follow-up email arrived with IRS logos, clean formatting, and a big payment button. John was trying to move fast\u00a0between classes as he\u00a0finished up\u00a0his PhD, and he wanted to\u00a0correct\u00a0the situation as quickly as possible.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was like, let me just hurry up and do this, get it over with.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He clicked. He paid.\u00a0But later, when he checked his statement, he\u00a0saw the charge\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0look like an IRS payment at all. In fact,\u00a0it was an international charge.\u00a0The whole thing was a\u00a0scam.<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

John said the scammer on the phone had\u00a0appealed to his emotions\u00a0and been incredibly convincing.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was absolutely masterful,\u201d\u00a0John said. \u201cI would give him an Oscar for it.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And\u00a0new McAfee research shows John\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0alone, with\u00a0nearly\u00a01\u00a0in 4 (23%)\u00a0US adults surveyed revealing\u00a0they\u2019ve\u00a0lost money to a tax\u00a0scam.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Example
Example of a tax scam text message<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Key findings from McAfee\u2019s\u00a02026 Tax Season Survey<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Here\u2019s\u00a0what our January 2026 survey of 3,008 U.S. adults found:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The big picture: lots of worry, not enough confidence<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n