Technology
Don’t fall for these sneaky tax scams that are out to steal your identity and money
Tax season isn’t fun for most people, but it can be downright miserable if you fall for a scam. This year, there’s been a noticeable uptick in scam callers impersonating IRS officials, and with the rise of AI-voice programs, these scams have become more convincing than ever.
The IRS flagged 2.4 million tax returns with refunds totaling roughly $13.8 billion for possible identity theft. Identity thieves use stolen information — like your SSN, name, address and more — to file fraudulent tax returns in your name.
Meanwhile, the Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) Scam Tracker collects reports on tax scams from the public. For scams reported as tax collection to BBB’s Scam Tracker in 2023, the median dollar loss was $2,100.
Here are some of the scams the BBB warns you to look out for this tax season.
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“Tax time” post-it on tax documents. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
1. Phone scams
Scammers pretend to be someone from the IRS and call you to ask to make back payments or send over personal information that can’t be found in the IRS system. They often pressure you to act immediately, threatening arrest or fines if you don’t comply.
In 2024, phone scammers have gotten so sophisticated that they will create fake badge numbers, get a fake caller ID name that appears to be from the government or leave official-sounding robocalls with the help of AI voiceovers.
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2. Phishing email scams
Phishing emails are scam emails designed to get personal information from you. Scammers will text, email or even message you on social media, claiming to be an IRS agent, and they will send you a link to a fake IRS website designed to steal your Social Security number and other sensitive personal data. Always remember: the IRS will never communicate with you via email but instead by physical USPS mail.
A person preparing their tax documents. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
3. Signs of tax-related identity theft
1. If you try to file your tax return by mail and receive a letter from the IRS stating that they have already received a return in your name, that could mean your identity has been compromised.
2. Also, if you go to file your tax return electronically and the IRS alerts you that someone filed for your return using your Social Security number, then you have likely been a victim of identity theft.
3. Lastly, if the IRS sends you a letter stating that you have created a new online account and you know you didn’t do this, that is a dead giveaway that your identity may have been stolen.
Tax documents. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
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Stay safe with these 8 tips from the Better Business Bureau
Tip 1 – File early
Filing early is one of the most sure-fire ways to keep yourself safe during tax season. If you file as soon as possible, there’s less of a chance someone can steal your identity by filing your taxes before you do. Always make sure to have all of your tax documents ready when you start to file.
Tip 2 – Know how the real IRS will contact you
The IRS doesn’t send emails, and their agents will never text you or contact you on social media. Typically, the IRS will only contact you through postage mail, but there is a chance that an IRS agent may perform an in-person visit, but only after confirming the visit via postage mail.
Tip 3 – Get an identity protection PIN (IP PIN) from the IRS
An easy way to add an extra layer of security to yourself is by getting an Identity Protection PIN, or IP-PIN, from the IRS. An IP-PIN is a six-digit number that the IRS uses to confirm your identity. It can help identify you even when someone nefarious has accessed your Tax ID and Social Security number. Signing up for an IP-PIN is easy and can be done online at IRS.gov, and the IRS will mail you a new IP-PIN after you opt-in every December.
Calculator and tax documents. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
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Tip 4 – Know how the IRS accepts payments
The IRS never demands immediate payment and will never ask for a credit card number or bank information over the phone. Never, under any circumstances, pay any money to someone claiming to be an IRS agent asking for cryptocurrency, digital gift cards or wire transfers.
Tip 5 – Know the signs of fraud
If the IRS informs you that either your return has already been filed or that you received wages from an employer you aren’t familiar with, you need to visit an IRS office in person as soon as possible to ensure you haven’t fallen victim to fraud.
Tip 6 – Protect your information
Ensure you keep all documents related to your taxes in a secure location, such as a home filing cabinet or on a password-protected computer. Generally, never give out your Social Security number unless absolutely necessary.
Tip 7 – Only use secure filing websites
Always make sure you are accessing the real IRS website by checking that the URL is spelled correctly. Look for the lock symbol next to the URL in your browser’s search bar to tell you that your connection to the IRS’s website is secure.
Tip 8 – Report any suspected scams
If you receive a phone call or email asking for important tax information, hang up immediately. Report the call first to the IRS. Next, you should make a report to the Federal Communications Commission. Finally, head to the Better Business Bureau and report the scam to their scam tracker.
Person upset by what he sees. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
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5 things to do if you are a victim of identity theft
1. Complete IRS Form 14039, the Identity Theft Affidavit: This is the form that all victims of fraud have to fill out for the IRS. This will let them know that the person who is claiming to be you is a fraud. You can find the form on the IRS website.
2. Request a copy of the fraudulent tax return from the IRS: You can do this by going to this page on the IRS website on dealing with fraudulent returns and following the instructions to order a copy.
3. Alert national credit bureaus: Let the national bureaus like Experian, Equifax and TransUnion know that there has been fraud and place a freeze on your account so that the scammers cannot get to it.
4. Report the crime to the Federal Trade Commission: The FTC is there to help track down scammers, and your report can also help them keep a record of how many scams are happening in a single year so that they can better improve how to warn others. You should also report the crime to identitytheft.gov
5. Check your online bank accounts: Make sure there aren’t any suspicious transactions on any of your accounts.
A woman is upset while preparing her taxes. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
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How can you protect yourself from tax-related identity theft?
Use an identity theft protection service: Identity theft companies can monitor personal information like your Social Security number (SSN), phone number and email address and alert you if it is being sold on the dark web or being used to open an account. They can also assist you in freezing your bank and credit card accounts to prevent further unauthorized use by criminals.
One of the best parts of using some services is that they might include identity theft insurance of up to $1 million to cover losses and legal fees and a white glove fraud resolution team where a U.S.-based case manager helps you recover any losses. See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft.
Have good antivirus software: The best way to protect yourself from clicking malicious links that install malware that may get access to your private information is to have antivirus protection installed on all your devices. This can also alert you of any phishing emails or ransomware scams. Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices.
Kurt’s key takeaways
Going from winter into spring may seem like an intense time with scammers due to the tax season immediately following the holiday shopping season. However, the reality is that scammers work around the clock and are active all year. These tips from the Better Business Bureau are a helpful reminder of ways to keep yourself safe from scammers throughout the year.
How do you feel about the rise of AI-voice programs and their use in phone scams? Does it make you not even want to pick up the phone? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact
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Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Microsoft’s Office 2019 apps for Mac will stop working next month, because the company isn’t renewing a certificate that validates Office licenses. Owners of Office 2019 for Mac are being warned they’ll have to purchase Office 2024 or a Microsoft 365 subscription if they want to continue editing documents.
Microsoft previously promised that “all your Office 2019 apps will continue to function,” when it announced end of support in 2023. The company then quietly updated that support note last month to remove the mention of apps continuing to function, replacing it with “Rest assured that all your Office 2019 apps won’t lose any data.”
Starting on July 13th, Office 2019 for Mac and Office 2021 for Mac will both run in “reduced functionality mode,” allowing people to open files but not edit, save, or create new documents. The reduced functionality will impact Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote.
While Microsoft is providing a certificate update for Office 2021 as it’s still supported until October 13th, 2026, the company is leaving Office 2019 for Mac users out in the cold as support for these apps ended a few years ago. “Office 2019 for Mac reached end of support on October 10, 2023, and no longer receives updates,” says Microsoft. “Because Office 2019 cannot be updated to the required version, this issue cannot be resolved by updating or reinstalling Office 2019 for Mac.”
JimmyTech points out that old versions of Microsoft 365 apps on Mac and iOS will also be affected by this certificate issue, but a simple update will fix it for those users.
Microsoft regularly ends support of software and there’s always the risk you could run into issues running older apps or versions of Windows. It’s still surprising to not see Microsoft make an exception here though, particularly because this certificate issue breaks the main functionality of an app you’ve paid a one-time license fee for.
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You know that little moment when your phone rings and the name on the screen makes you drop everything?
Maybe it says your spouse, your daughter, your boss or your best friend. You answer because you trust the name. Then the voice sounds familiar too.
That is exactly what makes the latest phone scams so dangerous.
Android’s fake call detection can warn you when a caller may be pretending to be someone saved in your contacts. (Silas Stein/Picture Alliance)
Scammers no longer have to call from a strange number. They can spoof a trusted contact’s phone number. Then they can use AI voice tools to sound like someone you know. Android is now rolling out a new feature called fake call detection to help warn you when that familiar call may be a fake.
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What is Android fake call detection?
Android fake call detection is a new protection built into Phone by Google. It is designed to spot suspected spoofed calls when both people on the call use Phone by Google.
Think of it as your phone quietly asking, “Is this call really coming from that person’s device?” If the answer looks suspicious, your phone can show a warning and advise you to hang up. That small alert could stop a scam before fear, panic or confusion takes over.
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How Android fake call detection works
The feature works automatically in the background. You do not need to answer a quiz, scan a code or press a button during the call. When a trusted contact calls you, their phone sends a silent confirmation signal to your phone. That signal helps prove the call really came from their device.
If a scammer spoofs your contact’s number, that confirmation signal may be missing. Your phone then checks with your contact’s actual device. If the real device says it is not placing a call, your screen can warn you that the call may be fake.
The system uses end-to-end encrypted RCS technology, so the check happens privately. You can also turn the feature off in Phone by Google settings.
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Why fake calls are getting harder to spot
For years, caller ID gave people a sense of control. If the name looked familiar, most of us felt safer picking up. That old habit now works in the scammer’s favor.
Scammers can use internet-based calling tools to spoof numbers. That means your phone may display the name of someone you trust, even though the call comes from somewhere else.
Then comes the AI voice trick. With today’s audio tools, scammers can make a fake voice sound shockingly real. They may pretend to be a family member in trouble, a bank employee warning about fraud or a manager asking for urgent help.
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That combination makes the call feel personal and immediate. It also makes you more likely to act before you think.
Why Android is adding this protection now
Impersonation scams have become a major global problem. INTERPOL’s March 2026 Global Financial Fraud Threat Assessment cited impersonation fraud as one of the leading contributors to more than $400 billion in global losses.
In the U.S., impersonation scams remain one of the top fraud categories reported to the FTC. Losses reached $2.95 billion in 2024.
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Those numbers tell you why this feature deserves attention. Scammers go where the money is. Right now, they know trusted voices and trusted names can open the door.
Which Android phones get fake call detection?
Google says fake call detection is rolling out globally in Phone by Google this month, starting with Pixel devices.
The feature is available on Android 12 and newer devices with Phone by Google, Contacts and Google Messages installed. It also requires RCS capability in Google Messages.
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There is one key limitation. Both you and the person calling you must use Phone by Google for fake call detection to work.
Phone by Google already comes as the default phone app on many Android devices. If your phone uses a different calling app, you can install Phone by Google from the Play Store and set it as your default phone app.
How Android fake call detection protects you
This feature gives you an extra warning at the exact moment you need it most. That timing is important. Scam calls often rely on emotion. The caller may say someone got arrested, a loved one had an accident or a bank account faces an urgent threat.
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When the voice sounds familiar, your guard drops. A warning on your screen can interrupt that emotional rush. It gives you a reason to stop, hang up and verify the story another way.
What Android fake call detection cannot do
This new tool helps, but it cannot protect you from every scam. It may not work if the other person does not use Phone by Google. It also may not cover calls from businesses, unknown numbers or contacts using unsupported devices. So you still need basic scam rules.
If someone asks for money, gift cards, crypto, account codes or remote access to your device, hang up. Then call the person or company back using a number you already trust.
Also, never stay on the line just because the caller tells you to. That is one of the oldest pressure tactics in the scammer playbook.
A spoofed call can look familiar on your screen, even when it is really coming from a scammer. (Kurt CyberGuy Knutsson)
How to protect yourself from AI voice scams
AI voice scams work because they sound personal, urgent and believable, so your best defense is to slow the conversation down before you act.
1) Create a family safe word
Pick a simple word or phrase that only your close family knows. It should be easy to remember but hard for a scammer to guess. Then, if someone calls with an emergency and asks for money, ask for the safe word. If they cannot give it, hang up and verify the story another way.
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2) Pause when the call feels urgent
Scammers want you scared because fear makes people act fast. That is why fake emergency calls often sound intense, emotional and rushed. Take a breath before you do anything. A real loved one, bank or employer will let you verify what is happening.
3) Call back using a trusted number
If a call feels suspicious, hang up. Then call the person back using a number saved in your contacts or one you know is real. Do not use a number, link or instruction the caller gives you. That could send you right back to the scammer.
4) Never send money or codes during the call
Do not send gift cards, crypto, wire transfers or payment app transfers because a caller sounds convincing. Also, never share a one-time passcode, PIN or account login code over the phone. Once scammers get that information, they can move fast.
5) Turn on scam protections on your phone
Use the built-in protections already available on your device. Pixel and Samsung users can enable Scam Detection in the Phone by Google app to help flag suspicious calls. Also, consider using strong antivirus software that includes AI-powered scam protection to help detect scams in texts, online content and deepfake videos. Keep an eye on call warnings too. If your phone tells you something looks risky, treat that alert seriously. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com
6) Keep your phone apps updated
Update Phone by Google, Google Contacts and Google Messages when updates are available. These tools work best when your apps and phone software stay current. Updates often include security improvements, bug fixes and new scam protections.
Here’s how to check for updates on Android:
- Open the Google Play Store app.
- Tap your profile icon in the top right corner.
- Tap Manage apps & device.
- Under Updates available, tap See details.
- Look for Phone by Google, Google Contacts and Google Messages.
- Tap Update next to each app, or tap Update all.
You can also turn on automatic app updates by opening the Google Play Store app, tapping your profile icon, then going to Settings > Network preferences > Auto-update apps. From there, choose whether to update apps over Wi-Fi, over Wi-Fi or mobile data, with limited mobile data or not at all.
Kurt’s key takeaways
If a call feels urgent or suspicious, pause before you respond and verify it another way. (Tristan Spinski/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Android’s fake call detection is a smart step in the fight against AI-powered phone scams. It recognizes something many people already know: the name on your caller ID no longer proves the person calling you is real. This feature gives Android users another layer of protection when scammers try to hijack trust. Still, the safest move remains simple. Slow down, verify the call and never let panic make the decision for you.
Should the government do more to stop scammers from using AI voices to impersonate the people you trust? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com
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Congress narrowly voted to fund President Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda, giving the Department of Homeland Security $70 billion over the next three years.
The house voted 214 to 212 in favor of the reconciliation bill Tuesday, following the Senate’s 52-47 vote last Friday morning. The vote fell largely along party lines. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) was the only Senate Republican to vote against it. Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI), initially voted against the bill — meaning it would have failed — but changed his vote after huddling with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) and Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-OK), according to The Hill. No Democrats voted in favor of the funding bill, which was done through a budget reconciliation process to avoid a Democratic filibuster.
In a speech on the House floor ahead of the Tuesday vote, Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA) criticized Republicans for using the budget reconciliation process to avoid negotiating with Democrats, and emphasized ICE’s lack of popularity with the American people.
“At its core, this Republican reconciliation budget bill is a statement about priorities, and the priorities represented in this budget bill could not be more out of step with the needs and values of the American people,” Scanlon said.
Scanlon noted that DHS has yet to spend $100 billion of the nearly $200 billion it received under Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. She added that Trump has not only expanded ICE’s reach by increasingly going after legal immigrants but also weaponized DHS against its critics. The bill, she said, will “supercharge” Trump’s abuses.
After the House markup last Friday, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, noted that the bill not only lacks sufficient reforms but also cuts funding for cybersecurity and TSA, whose workers went weeks without pay during the DHS shutdown.
The funding bill comes at a time of deep unpopularity for ICE. One recent poll found that just 33 percent of voters approve of how the agency is doing its job.
And it comes amid yet another threat from border czar Tom Homan to flood New York City with ICE agents. In an interview with Fox News on Monday, Homan said he would send “more ICE agents than you’ve ever seen” to New York City if the state government passed a bill limiting cooperation with DHS.
“Providing a quarter trillion dollars to an administration promising that the public ‘ain’t seen shit yet’ when it comes to mass deportation is a historic mistake,” Todd Schulte, president of the immigration reform group FWD.us, said in a statement. “Supercharging the funding for these already out of control systems will come with terrible human consequences and continue to be met with increasing opposition from voters.”
Correction, June 9th: A previous version of this story said Rep. Tim Walberg voted against the funding bill. He initially voted against it but then changed his vote to support it.
Update, June 9th: This story has been updated to include comment from FWD.us president Todd Schulte.
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