Don't fall for these tricky tax-related scams

(WAND) - Comptroller Susana Mendoza is warning people to be on the lookout for tax related scams this filing season.

"This is the time of year when you're dealing with a lot of personal information including Social Security and bank account numbers," said Comptroller Mendoza. "You've got to be careful not to fall victim to con artists looking to steal your identity and your money."

A January 2026 report by McAfee found that 23% of those surveyed have lost money to a tax scam, with an average loss of $1,020.

One of the most common scams going around has people posing as someone from the Internal Revenue Service. They can reach out over phone call, text, or email. They are sometimes aggressive.

Mendoza's office said AI is making it even more difficult to tell what's real and what's a scam.

The IRS says the message may be a scam if it:

Is unexpected
Rushes or threatens you
Offers refunds, credits or deductions
Pressures you for personal or financial information
Tells you to pay now "or else"

Scam messages look real and may include the IRS logo and a link to what looks like an official government website. They may say "your tax refund has been processed," or promise to reduce your tax burden or say you own back taxes. Even clicking on the link can lead to your personal information being stolen.

The Illinois Department of Revenue warns there are similar scams to appear to come from their agency. IDOR tells anyone receiving a suspicious looking text, email or call to confirm official communications or contact details on its website.

The IRS launched a website to report tax related fraud, and offers advice on how to tell if a message is really from the IRS.

The IRS will typically contact people first via U.S.P.S. mail and won't email or text without your permission.

A specific scam includes a message saying something like "your tax refund has been delayed due to a verification issue. Please confirm your information" The link leads to a close replica of a government website or tax filing service, asking you to input your personal information. Scammers are then able to steal your data.

Other types of scams include bogus tax professionals on social media claiming they can get you big refunds, texts saying you've been overcharged on your last tax installment and asking you to click a link to be compensated, and calls that sound authoritative from someone claiming to be an IRS enforcement unit, demanding immediate payment.

Once you file your state taxes, visit Find My Refund on the Illinois Office of Comptroller website to check the status of your refund if applicable.

The deadline to file income taxes in Wednesday, April 15.