Story perspectives

Scammers Exploit Tax Season Anxiety: IRS Warning Issued

2/1/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The 2026 tax season features changes to filing programs and the end of the free government-run filing system, creating scam opportunities.
Scammers exploit taxpayer anxiety with fake Internal Revenue Service (IRS) communications and urgent messages that aim to cause panic.
Lynette Owens of Trend Micro warns that scammers impersonate the Internal Revenue Service to steal personal information.
Taxpayers should verify unexpected communications through official channels, avoid suspicious links, and use strong passwords.

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Story summary

The 2026 tax season features changes to filing programs and the end of the free government-run filing system, creating scam opportunities.
Scammers exploit taxpayer anxiety with fake Internal Revenue Service (IRS) communications and urgent messages that aim to cause panic.
Lynette Owens of Trend Micro warns that scammers impersonate the Internal Revenue Service to steal personal information.
Taxpayers should verify unexpected communications through official channels, avoid suspicious links, and use strong passwords.