As the deadline for filing your taxes approaches, scammers are hard at work phishing for your personal information and impersonating the IRS. Tax scams can take many forms. It's important to be knowledgeable so you can protect your personal information.

Beware of Tax Fraud and Related Scams

• A tell-tale sign of identity theft is receiving a letter from the IRS about a tax return that you did not file.

You may also be unable to e-file your return because of a duplicate Social Security number. If you know or suspect you are a victim of tax-related identity theft, visit IdentityTheft.gov for next steps.

• Phishing attempts are made via email, text message, or social media channels and may request your personal or financial information.

They may display the IRS logo and feature subject lines like "Tax refund payment" and "Recalculation of your tax refund payment." If you receive a suspicious email, do not click on any links or open any attachments. Learn how to tell if it’s really the IRS.

• Phone scams may be urgent or threatening.

Don't give out any information to these callers, and always report suspicious communications to the IRS. Report the caller ID and callback number to the IRS by emailing phishing@irs.gov. The subject line should include "IRS Phone Scam." The same email address can be used to report email phishing scams.

• Scammers may offer exemption from filing, or other "too good to be true" promises of instant wealth.

Learning how to identify tax scams and using healthy skepticism are some of the best tools available to you.

Additional Tips for Protecting Your Information

• Get familiar with scams targeting taxpayers.
• Protect yourself against identity theft.
• For help with Cornell Information Technology security-related issues, you can also contact itsecurity@cornell.edu.

If you suspect that your NetID or Cornell email have been compromised, please report the security incident.