Tax scams rarely stay the same for long. Each filing season brings new tactics designed to trick taxpayers into revealing personal information or claiming refunds they are not entitled to receive. In recent years, fraud tied to unemployment systems, stimulus payments and identity theft caught many taxpayers by surprise. Some people did not discover the problem until their legitimate tax return was rejected, or unexpected tax forms arrived in the mail.

Two years later, promoters marketed confusing credits such as the Employee Retention Credit to businesses that did not qualify, collecting fees to file improper claims. By 2025, misleading guidance spread widely on social media, encouraging taxpayers to misuse forms like 4136 or modify wage information through consumer tax software.

Each of these scams relies on confusion around tax rules and filing systems. Understanding how they work can help you spot red flags before submitting your return this year.

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IRS WARNS TAXPAYERS OF NEW MAILING REFUND SCAM
 

2021 tax scams: Unemployment fraud and stimulus payment theft

In 2021, identity theft linked to unemployment programs created widespread tax problems. Criminals used stolen Social Security numbers to file benefit claims through state systems. Because unemployment income is taxable, Form 1099-G notices were sent to victims for payments they never received. The IRS advised taxpayers not to report fraudulent income and to contact the issuing state agency to correct the records.

Stimulus payments were also targeted. Scammers filed early tax returns using stolen personal data to claim Recovery Rebate Credits or redirect refunds. When legitimate filers later submitted their returns, some were rejected because a return tied to their Social Security number had already been processed. Federal agencies, including the FBI, warned of high levels of unemployment fraud during this period. The IRS also encouraged taxpayers to sign up for an Identity Protection PIN, which adds an extra layer of verification when filing.

Worried your SSN may have been stolen? Many tax fraud cases begin with data pulled from breaches. You can run a free scan with our top Identity Theft Protection pick to check whether your information appears in known data-leak records. The scan looks for matches tied to your email address and shows the results in real time. See my tips and best picks on Best Identity Theft Protection at Cyberguy.com.

2023 tax scam warning: Ghost preparers filing fraudulent returns

The IRS later flagged a rise in returns prepared by so-called ghost preparers. These individuals charge fees to prepare tax returns but refuse to sign them or include a valid Preparer Tax Identification Number. Under federal tax rules, anyone paid to prepare a return must sign it. When a preparer does not, the taxpayer, not the preparer, remains responsible for the filing.

In many flagged cases, ghost preparers inflated tax credits, fabricated income figures or altered withholding amounts to generate larger refunds. Some charged fees based on the size of the refund, which created an incentive to push questionable claims rather than follow tax rules.

2025 tax scams: Social media tax ‘hacks’ and improper filings

By 2025, misleading tax advice began circulating widely on short-form video platforms and social media. Some posts encouraged people to file Form 4136 to claim a fuel tax credit for gasoline used in personal vehicles. The IRS says this credit applies only to certain business and off-highway uses, not everyday driving. Filing the form improperly can trigger an IRS review.

Other posts instructed taxpayers to modify wage or withholding numbers inside consumer tax software to inflate refund amounts. The IRS has repeatedly warned that taxpayers remain responsible for the accuracy of their returns, regardless of where the advice originated. Filing incorrect income information or claiming unsupported credits can delay refunds and potentially lead to penalties. 

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2026 IRS warning: Tax scams expected this filing season

The IRS recently released its 2026 “Dirty Dozen” list of tax scams it expects to circulate during the filing season. Phishing and text message scams remain among the most common threats. Scammers often impersonate the IRS or tax software companies and claim there is a refund issue or account problem in an attempt to collect Social Security numbers, bank details or login credentials.

The agency emphasizes that it does not initiate contact through email, text messages or social media to request sensitive information. The 2026 list also includes ghost preparers and misleading tax advice shared online, including content that pushes improper credit claims. Identity theft refund fraud remains part of the enforcement picture, with criminals filing returns using stolen data before legitimate taxpayers do.

How to protect yourself from tax scams

A few simple habits can reduce your risk during filing season.

1) Monitor your personal data and credit activity

Identity theft refund fraud remains a major concern. Criminals sometimes file tax returns using stolen personal information before the legitimate taxpayer submits theirs. Because many tax fraud cases begin with personal data exposed in breaches, keeping track of where your information appears online can help you catch warning signs earlier. 

Identity theft services scan known data breach records for matches tied to your email address, Social Security number and other identifiers.

These services also monitor credit files across the three major U.S. credit bureaus and alert you to new accounts, hard inquiries or other changes to your credit report. If suspicious activity appears, members receive real-time alerts as soon as it is detected.

See my tips and best picks on Best Identity Theft Protection at Cyberguy.com.

2) Work only with legitimate tax preparers

Anyone paid to prepare a tax return must sign it and include a valid Preparer Tax Identification Number. Avoid preparers who promise unusually large refunds or refuse to sign your return.

3) Ignore unexpected IRS messages

The IRS does not contact taxpayers through email, text messages or social media to request personal information. Messages claiming to be from the IRS asking for sensitive data are usually scams.

AVERAGE TAX REFUND TOPS $3,700 MIDWAY THROUGH FILING SEASON, TREASURY SAYS
 

4) File your return early

Identity thieves often attempt to file fraudulent tax returns before the real taxpayer does. Filing earlier in the season can reduce that risk.

5) Consider an IRS Identity Protection PIN

This six-digit code adds an extra layer of security to your tax return. Without it, criminals cannot file a return using your Social Security number.

What to do if someone files a tax return in your name

If the IRS rejects your return because one has already been filed using your Social Security number, you may need to complete IRS Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit. The IRS may also require identity verification before processing your return. In some cases, affected taxpayers must submit a paper return while the agency investigates the suspected fraud.

Kurt’s key takeaways

Tax scams change every year, but the pattern stays the same. Criminals look for confusion around tax rules, new programs or trending online advice and use that uncertainty to push fraudulent claims or steal personal information. The best protection is slowing down before you file. Verify tax advice through trusted sources such as the IRS, work only with legitimate tax preparers and keep a close eye on your personal data and credit activity. A little caution during filing season can help prevent months of headaches if your return gets flagged for fraud.

Have you ever received a suspicious tax message, questionable filing advice online or discovered a tax return filed in your name? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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A couple of weeks ago, Google and Samsung announced a big Gemini development coming to their newest devices: task automation. Starting with food delivery and rideshare apps, Gemini would be able to use certain apps on your behalf in a virtual window to take care of things like ordering dinner or getting a car to the airport — all based on simple prompts. You know, all the stuff that we’ve been promised for years AI assistants will be able to do. That feature wasn’t live when I first started testing the S26 Ultra, but it just arrived in beta as part of an update. And boy is it weird watching your phone use itself!

The first prompt I gave it was pretty simple: order an Uber to the airport. Gemini asked for clarification to determine which airport (a good question to ask!), then it went through a couple of steps on its own: adding the destination and opting to skip the step where you specify your airline, which doesn’t really matter at my local airport since it’s all in one terminal. As promised, the system stopped before the final step and prompted me to review the details before putting in the request for a car.

A vague and slightly more complicated request to order a coffee and a croissant required a little more input from me — and a lot of time on Gemini’s part scrolling through Starbucks’ hot drink options — but sure enough, it found the flat white on the menu. It also confronted a crucial decision: order the chocolate croissant warmed, or straight out of the pastry case? Without my input, it specified (correctly) that the pastry should be warmed. Pretty impressive for an assistant that just a year ago would argue with me over the details of a flight on my calendar.

I’ve got much more testing to do with this automation feature and I plan to spend the next few days throwing it some curveballs. Still, it’s impressive to see this feature out in the wild working as intended — so far, at least.

Photography by Allison Johnson / The Verge

Some stars spend their careers protecting the version of themselves that first made them famous. Donny Osmond took the opposite path. He built a career by evolving with the times and then kept going. Today, in his Las Vegas residency at Harrah’s, the legendary entertainer performs a duet with a digital version of his 14-year-old self, the same teenage Donny who captured hearts decades ago with hits like “Puppy Love.”

The moment feels almost surreal on stage. Yet it also reflects something deeper about Osmond’s career. Instead of resisting technology or relying only on nostalgia, he has embraced new tools that allow him to reinterpret his own history in front of a live audience. That willingness to experiment with technology has helped him remain relevant for more than six decades in entertainment.

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Why Donny Osmond still connects with audiences

There is a reason Donny Osmond still matters to multiple generations. Older fans know the teen idol who broke out with songs like “Puppy Love.” Others know him from Donny & Marie. Theater fans remember “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” Younger audiences may know him as the singing voice of Captain Shang in Disney’s “Mulan.” Then there are reality TV fans who saw him win Dancing With the Stars or meet him again on The Masked Singer.

That range gives him something rare in entertainment. He does not belong to just one era. He belongs to several. And instead of resisting that, he leans into it. Technology now plays a role in that connection as well.

How Donny Osmond brought his younger self back to the stage

Osmond explained the idea when he sat down with me for my “Beyond Connected” podcast. The concept actually began decades ago when he started imagining what future technology might make possible. “Even when I was a teenager, I thought someday there’s going to be technology where John Wayne could be Obi-Wan Kenobi. And I was right!” Osmond said.

That long-held fascination eventually led him to a simple question. “Why can’t I sing ‘Puppy Love’ with my 14-year-old self on stage?” Osmond said. The answer involved combining several forms of digital production, AI modeling and stage design.

“The face is actually my 14-year-old face taken from pictures, the voice is my voice from interviews when I was 14, and the body is my 14-year-old grandson,” Osmond said. The result is a performance where two versions of Donny Osmond appear to share the stage at the same time.

It is not a hologram, it is something called a hollow box

Many people assume the younger Donny is a hologram. Osmond said that is not the case. “It’s not a projection, like a laser projection. It’s not like a hologram. It’s a totally different technology,” Osmond explained.

Instead, the illusion relies on a piece of stage technology known as a hollow box. The structure is built into the set and designed to look like a vintage recording booth on stage. Inside that space, advanced visual systems combine CGI, AI modeling and stage lighting to create the digital image of the younger Donny so it appears full-size and three-dimensional.

The effect blends archived photos, computer-generated animation and voice samples from Osmond’s early interviews to recreate his teenage likeness. His grandson provides the physical body movement used to animate the performance. Standing just inches away from the illusion, Osmond can look directly at his younger self while singing. From the audience’s perspective, it appears as if the two performers are sharing the stage face-to-face in real time.

Even after performing the sequence night after night, Osmond said the experience still surprises him. “I do it every night, and it never gets old. It’s like looking in the mirror 54 years ago,” Osmond said. For longtime fans, the moment connects the teenage star they remember with the seasoned performer he is today. The visual contrast tells the story of a career that has spanned generations.

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Donny Osmond has always been fascinated with technology

One of the most surprising parts of my conversation with Donny is that he does not sound like a celebrity who was dragged into modern tech. He sounds like the kid who would have loved being dropped into a maker lab. “Ever since I was a teenager, I’ve always been kind of a geek or nerd about technical things,” Osmond said.

That curiosity still drives him today. He studies the tools behind his stage production and experiments with new ways to keep the show fresh. In many ways, technology has become another creative instrument.

Donny Osmond’s favorite app might surprise you

When I asked Donny which apps he uses the most, the answer revealed a different side of the performer. “I’d have to say, uh, Google Sheets because, uh, I’ve created algorithms,” Osmond said.

He enjoys building detailed spreadsheets and analyzing data. His phone of choice is a foldable device that allows him to view larger spreadsheets easily. Osmond also embraces connected security technology. He said he uses cameras and smart alarm systems to monitor his homes, dressing room and other properties so he always knows what is happening around him.

For someone known around the world as a singer and performer, it is an unexpectedly technical hobby.

Donny Osmond sees both the promise and risks of AI

Artificial intelligence has sparked debate across music, film and media. Some artists worry about misuse or losing control of their voice and likeness. Osmond takes a balanced view. “Any technology put in the wrong hands can turn into nefarious things, but look at the good it can do,” Osmond said.

From medicine to entertainment, he believes AI has the potential to drive major advances. “What a great time to be alive with today’s technology. It’s amazing to watch it all happen in real time,” Osmond said. At the same time, he believes society must stay engaged with technological progress rather than fear it. “If we run away from technology, other countries and other people are going to be way ahead of us,” Osmond said.

Speaking of technology, Osmond says his music may already have made it into space. During our conversation, he said one of his songs was reportedly used to test the sound system on a spacecraft capsule. “They actually used my song ‘Start Again’ from my latest album to test the sound system on one of the capsules,” Osmond said.

He then mentioned another story he has heard many times over the years. “When they went to the moon in the Apollo missions, and we did go to the moon, by the way, they took a tape of music with them. And on that music is Andy Williams singing ‘Aquarius.’ I’m singing background vocals on that song. They left the tape on the moon. My voice is sitting on the moon.”

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Social media would have changed the early Donny Osmond years

Osmond also reflected on how today’s digital platforms might have changed his early career. “Can you imagine what I could have done during the ‘Puppy Love’ years with social media?” Osmond said.

At the height of his teen idol fame, fans lined up outside television studios and concerts hoping to catch a glimpse of him. Today, that kind of connection often happens through social platforms and digital communities. It is one more example of how technology has reshaped the entertainment industry.

A career that continues to evolve

Donny Osmond first rose to fame performing with his brothers as part of the Osmonds. The family group became a television sensation in the late 1960s and early 1970s with appearances on shows like “The Andy Williams Show.” Soon after, his sister Marie stepped into the spotlight, and the two became household names with their hit variety series “Donny & Marie.” Decades later, the siblings reunited for a highly successful Las Vegas residency that ran for more than a decade.

Over the years, Osmond has released dozens of albums, starred in television shows, performed on Broadway and built a long-running Las Vegas career. Today, he headlines his own residency at Harrah’s Las Vegas, where he performs several nights a week. The show has been extended through May 2026, a testament to its continued popularity with audiences. Many younger fans now discover Osmond through social media clips, streaming platforms and live performances in Las Vegas.

Technology now plays a role in how he connects with fans as well. Osmond keeps fans connected through the Donny app (donnyosmondapp.com), which brings together news, videos, tour updates and a timeline of his career in one place. Fans can also find tickets, show information and updates at Donny.com, the official website he referenced during our interview. By blending nostalgia with modern technology, Osmond continues to reach fans across generations while pushing his show into new territory.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Donny Osmond’s career is proof that curiosity can keep an artist moving forward. Instead of resisting change, he continues exploring the technology that’s shaping our world today. From AI stage performances to data-driven apps and smart home systems, Osmond approaches technology with the same enthusiasm he brings to performing. Be sure to listen to or watch the “Beyond Connected” conversation with Donny Osmond to hear more about how he blends entertainment and technology.

If you could use AI to meet a younger version of yourself, what would you ask them? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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