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Beware Tax Scams: Cybercriminals Target You Before Filing

2/18/2026

27 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Tax scams begin in January, targeting individuals before the tax season with fake IRS messages.
Cybercriminals use data from brokers to craft credible messages about urgent action or delayed refunds.
The messages create panic, enabling identity theft, fake tax returns, and new credit lines.
Individuals should consider data removal services, use strong passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and monitor personal information online.

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Story summary

Tax scams begin in January, targeting individuals before the tax season with fake IRS messages.
Cybercriminals use data from brokers to craft credible messages about urgent action or delayed refunds.
The messages create panic, enabling identity theft, fake tax returns, and new credit lines.
Individuals should consider data removal services, use strong passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and monitor personal information online.