Protect Yourself: Tax Scams That Target Seniors

Tax season is high season for scammers, and older adults are a frequent target. The good news: once you know how the real IRS actually behaves, the fakes become surprisingly easy to spot. Here are the red flags worth memorizing.

The real IRS contacts you by mail first

Legitimate tax matters start with a letter, not a surprise phone call. If someone calls out of the blue claiming to be the IRS and pressuring you to act immediately, that pressure itself is the warning sign.

The IRS will never demand gift cards, wire transfers, or crypto

This is the clearest tell of all. No real tax bill is ever paid with gift cards, a wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. Anyone who insists on those is trying to steal from you — full stop.

The IRS won’t threaten arrest

Scammers love to threaten jail, deportation, or the police to frighten people into paying. The IRS does not operate that way. Threats like these mean the call is fake.

Be wary of emails and texts asking for personal information

The IRS does not email or text asking for your Social Security number, bank details, or passwords. Don’t click links in unexpected “IRS” messages — they often lead to fake sites built to capture your information.

When in doubt, slow down

Real tax issues are never an emergency that must be settled in the next ten minutes. That urgency is manufactured to keep you from thinking clearly. Hang up, take a breath, and verify before doing anything.

If you ever receive a tax message and aren’t sure whether it’s real, send it our way before you respond — we’re always glad to help you check. Protecting your money is part of protecting your peace of mind.