Almost 1 in 4 Americans affected by tax scams as new rules, AI deepfakes confuse filers — here are 5 traps to watch for

Core Insights - Tax season presents heightened risks for fraud, with 23% of Americans reporting losses to tax scams, indicating a significant prevalence of this issue [1] - Fraudsters are leveraging advanced artificial intelligence tools to deceive individuals into providing personal information or money, exacerbated by confusion over new tax regulations [2] - The IRS reports a 14% increase in tax refunds this year, motivating scammers to exploit this situation [2] Tax Scams Overview - Tax scams are prevalent year-round but intensify during tax season, with five common scams identified [4] - IRS impersonation scams involve fraudsters posing as IRS agents, using emails, texts, or phone calls to claim individuals owe back taxes or need refund verification [5] - Scammers create a sense of urgency, directing victims to fake websites to collect sensitive information, which can then be used to file fraudulent tax returns [6] - Social media schemes see scammers posing as tax experts on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, promising unrealistic refunds or credits, and profiting from the refunds claimed by victims [7]