Scam Library

Tax Scams

You receive a call, text, or email claiming to be from a tax authority, saying you owe back taxes and must pay immediately to avoid arrest, or that you're due a refund and need to provide personal information to claim it.

Warning signs

What to watch for

Threats of immediate arrest for unpaid taxes
Demands for payment via gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency
Contact by text or email about tax matters — real tax agencies typically initiate contact by mail
A request for your Social Security number or bank details to 'process a refund'

Stay safe

How to verify

Contact your tax authority directly using the number on their official website, not the one provided in the message
Check your account through the tax authority's official online portal to see if anything is actually owed

Already sent money or shared a password?

Contact your bank using the number on the back of your card, or the official number on your statement — not any number from the suspicious message.

Not sure if something you received matches this pattern?

Check a Message