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in Robocall / Phone Scam
knoxpages.com
· 2025-12-08
Ohio residents lost over $150 million to financial scams in 2023, with identity theft, imposter fraud, and online shopping scams being the most prevalent types, according to state authorities. Ohio ranked 12th nationally for identity theft cases in 2023, with younger residents at risk through social media exploitation and seniors vulnerable due to larger financial holdings. Law enforcement recommends reviewing financial statements regularly, avoiding unsolicited requests for payment via gift cards or prepaid cards, and remembering that legitimate government agencies do not solicit personal information via email.
ksnblocal4.com
· 2025-12-08
Right at Home, a home health care service in Nebraska, is warning families about common scams targeting older adults, particularly government impersonation scams (IRS, Social Security, Medicare) and charity fraud. The company advises vulnerable seniors to verify suspicious mailings with family members, be cautious of charity solicitations on social media, and allow trusted individuals to monitor bank statements, while noting that their caregivers are trained to identify and help prevent elder fraud.
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
The Jalisco New Generation cartel (CJNG), a Mexican drug cartel, orchestrated a sophisticated timeshare fraud scheme that defrauded Americans of approximately $40 million in 2022 alone, with the scam now estimated to steal hundreds of millions annually. The operation targeted elderly U.S. citizens, using high-pressure tactics to collect upfront fees for timeshare sales, then became evasive; scammers later posed as lawyers offering false restitution to keep victims engaged through repeated wire transfers. The FBI received over 600 complaints in 2022, and the U.S. Treasury imposed multiple rounds of sanctions against cartel members and Mexican companies involve
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Jalisco New Generation cartel (CJNG) orchestrated a sophisticated timeshare scam that defrauded Americans of approximately $40 million in 2022, with many elderly victims losing their life savings. The scheme, originating in Puerto Vallarta and expanding to tourist destinations like Cancun, involved high-pressure sales tactics, upfront fees, and years-long follow-up scams posing as recovery lawyers—one victim alone lost nearly $1.8 million through 99 wire transfers. The U.S. Treasury and FBI responded with sanctions and warnings starting in 2023, freezing assets and restricting dealings with identified companies and fugitives involve
nypost.com
· 2025-12-08
The Jalisco New Generation cartel (CJNG), a violent Mexican drug cartel, orchestrated a sophisticated timeshare scam that defrauded Americans of approximately $40 million in 2022, with victims including many elderly citizens who lost their life savings. The scheme, which evolved from Puerto Vallarta to popular tourist destinations like Cancun, involved multiple layers of deception including high-pressure sales tactics, upfront fees, and fake recovery lawyers making restitution promises over years-long periods. The FBI received over 600 complaints with losses of $39.6 million in 2022, prompting federal sanctions against the cartel's network and a multi-agency
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Three Los Angeles County men were sentenced to federal prison (15, 10, and 8 years respectively) for laundering gift cards stolen from telephone scam victims, acquiring over 5,000 Target gift card numbers from a Chinese fraud operation called "Magic Lamp" and using runners to quickly liquidate them at retail stores. The scheme targeted mostly older adults between June 2019 and November 2020, with victims defrauded through impersonation scams by government officials and tech support, and the defendants ordered to pay restitution totaling $194,387.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Three men—Blade Bai, Bowen Hu, and Tairan Shi—were sentenced to 15, 10, and 8 years in prison respectively for laundering gift card fraud proceeds between June 2019 and November 2020. The defendants acquired over 5,000 Target gift card numbers (typically valued at $500 each) from a Chinese fraud ring called "Magic Lamp," then used runners to quickly liquidate the cards by purchasing high-value electronics, targeting mostly elderly victims who had been deceived by telephone scammers posing as government officials or tech support personnel. The scheme involved a transnational network designed to prevent Target from reimburs
news8000.com
· 2025-12-08
The Wisconsin Better Business Bureau issued an alert about "can you hear me?" phone scams, where callers immediately ask that question to record a "yes" response for fraudulent purposes. Scammers use the recorded affirmation to authorize unauthorized purchases, target consumers with future scams, or extract personal information by impersonating banks, government agencies, and insurance companies. The BBB recommends screening calls with caller ID, hanging up on unfamiliar callers, joining the Do Not Call Registry, and monitoring financial statements.
freep.com
· 2025-12-08
**Ticket Scam Alert: March Madness and NFL Draft**
As Detroit prepares to host NCAA March Madness games (March 29-31) and the NFL draft (April 25-27), scammers are using social media and AI to target fans seeking tickets by posing as sellers with fake or non-existent tickets. Threat intelligence research reveals that crime rings use AI-assisted automation to quickly identify and engage potential victims through social media posts, often using generic language and fraudulent documentation, and victims should only purchase tickets through official platforms like NCAAtickets.com and Ticketmaster, never through third-party payment methods like gift cards or money orders
globalnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
According to a Valley First branch manager, fraud is a growing threat in Canada, with common scams including investment, grandparent, tech support, romance, and spoofing schemes. In 2023, Canada recorded over 62,000 fraud reports affecting more than 41,000 victims with losses exceeding $554 million, though actual figures are likely higher due to underreporting. Protection strategies include maintaining updated antivirus software, enabling multi-factor authentication, using complex passwords, setting up banking alerts, and avoiding sharing personal information or upfront fees.
investopedia.com
· 2025-12-08
Pig butchering scams are a sophisticated investment fraud scheme in which scammers create fake online identities to build trust with victims before stealing their money, often through fraudulent cryptocurrency investments. The scams use social engineering, AI-generated content, and emotional manipulation to exploit victims' vulnerabilities, with billions of dollars in global losses reported. To protect yourself, ignore unsolicited messages, verify financial advice independently, and immediately report any suspected scam to your bank and law enforcement.
whsv.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Virginia residents lost over $200 million to scams according to the Federal Trade Commission. The Better Business Bureau warns that AI-generated content is making scams increasingly sophisticated and harder to detect, with scammers using AI to create fake celebrity endorsements in shopping and investment schemes. The BBB recommends verifying legitimacy through reverse image searches, checking for audio/visual irregularities, and conducting thorough research before engaging with unfamiliar offers.
krsl.com
· 2025-12-08
The North Central-Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging and Kansas Legal Services are hosting free "Scam Scan" seminars throughout April 2024 to educate older Kansans about recognizing and preventing common scams involving emails, phone calls, and text messages. The seminars, which began in January with high attendance, teach prevention tips to protect participants' money and personal information. Additional sessions are scheduled at senior centers in Glen Elder, Mankato, Ellsworth, and Wilson in April, with registration available at ncfhaaa.com/seminars or by calling 1-800-432-2703.
welivesecurity.com
· 2025-12-08
Loan fraud is surging as financial pressures from inflation and rising costs push vulnerable populations to seek credit, with scammers exploiting this desperation through various schemes. Common tactics include advance-fee fraud (requesting upfront payments for loans that never materialize), student loan forgiveness scams, phishing for personal information, and malicious loan apps—with victims in the UK losing an average of £255 ($323) per incident. Those most at risk are young people, seniors, low-income households, and individuals with poor credit scores who are targeted because they're most likely to be desperate for quick funding.
ktemnews.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece provides five key scam prevention tips for Texas residents: legitimate prizes do not require upfront payment; real law enforcement will not threaten arrest or deportation by phone to collect debts; legitimate businesses allow time for decision-making rather than pressuring immediate commitment; scammers use untraceable payment methods like wire transfers and gift cards; and government agencies will never call unsolicited to request sensitive personal information. The advice emphasizes recognizing pressure tactics, verifying caller identity, and avoiding irreversible payment methods as primary safeguards against common fraud schemes.
financialregnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal authorities (CFTC, FINRA, and NASAA) issued a joint warning about precious metals investment scams targeting seniors, where fraudulent dealers tout gold and silver as "safe investments" while charging excessive markups, commissions, and fees that prevent investors from profiting. Scammers specifically target retirees and those near retirement by encouraging retirement account rollovers, using fake celebrity endorsements, high-pressure sales tactics, and fake self-directed IRA custodians to steal funds. In September 2020, federal and state authorities filed a civil enforcement action against two precious metals dealers for an alleged $185 million fraudulent scheme targeting elderly people nationwide.
timesnownews.com
· 2025-12-08
A Bengaluru woman lost Rs 77,000 in a refund scam after receiving spoiled milk from an online grocery platform on March 18, 2024. She contacted a fraudulent customer service number and was instructed to transfer money via PhonePe using a provided UPI ID, believing she would receive a refund; instead, her account was debited. The woman reported the incident to police, who are working to freeze the scammer's account under the Information Technology Act.
abc.net.au
· 2025-12-08
Jo O'Brien lost her $500,000 divorce settlement after being deceived by scammers who impersonated AMP employees through a fake comparison website and convinced her to transfer funds into what she believed was her own investment account but was actually controlled by a fraudulent shell company called Supercheap Security. Over $1.3 million from multiple victims was funneled through a NAB bank account, and O'Brien alleges the bank was slow to freeze the account even after she reported the fraud, allowing an additional $275,000 to be transferred overseas. The account operator, Hassan Mehdi, was arrested attempting to leave Australia but charges were later dropped, with the case highlighting vulner
deseret.com
· 2025-12-08
During election season, scammers exploit increased political communications by impersonating legitimate candidates and political action committees to solicit donations from voters, with particular targeting of older Americans. The Better Business Bureau and AARP warn against providing personal information via unsolicited emails, texts, and phone calls, and advise verifying organizations through trusted sources before donating. Suspicious activity can be reported to the BBB's Scam Tracker or the FBI.
ghanaweb.com
· 2025-12-08
Ghanaian social media influencer Mona Faiz Montrage (Hajia4Reall) pleaded guilty to conspiracy to receive stolen money from romance scams targeting older Americans, facing up to five years in prison and ordered to forfeit and pay restitution of $2,164,758.41. The scams victimized elderly Americans through fraudulent romantic relationships that resulted in financial theft. Montrage was arrested abroad and her case was prosecuted by the U.S. Department of Justice's Southern District of New York.
boredpanda.com
· 2025-12-08
A 16-year-old boy was scammed by an online "girlfriend" he had never met in person, who pressured him into purchasing $50-$100 in in-game items by threatening to break up with him if he refused. His father discovered the unauthorized charges, paid them off, and confiscated the son's credit card while requiring reimbursement. The incident highlights how teenagers' emotional vulnerability and lack of online safety education make them susceptible to financial manipulation and exploitation by online predators.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Between January 2023 and March 2024, Richmond, B.C. RCMP reported 99 romance scam cases totaling over $16 million in losses, with scammers using dating websites and social media to build trust with victims over weeks or months before convincing them to invest in fraudulent schemes, often involving cryptocurrencies. The article also warns of a separate "speeding ticket scam" where fake text messages direct victims to fraudulent websites designed to steal personal and financial information by impersonating official government traffic violation notices.
nj.com
· 2025-12-08
A New Jersey married couple, Martins Friday Inalegwu (35) and Steincy Mathieu (27), admitted to stealing at least $4.5 million from over 100 victims through an online romance scam operating from October 2016 to May 2020, using dating websites and social media to build fake relationships before requesting money for fabricated emergencies. The perpetrators received funds via wire transfers, checks, Western Union, MoneyGram, and international bank accounts in Turkey and Nigeria, and also failed to pay taxes on the stolen money. Inalegwu pleaded guilty to money transmitting violations and tax evasion, while Mathieu
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
Richmond, B.C. RCMP warned of a significant rise in romance investment scams in 2023, with 87 reported cases resulting in over $16 million in losses, continuing into 2024 with 12 cases and nearly $500,000 lost in just three months. These "long-con" scams involve fraudsters grooming victims through dating websites and social media over weeks or months, building trust before convincing them to invest in fake schemes often involving cryptocurrencies and displaying fabricated returns. The RCMP also warned of a separate "speeding ticket" phishing scam using text messages with fake government websites designed to steal personal and financial information.
summitdaily.com
· 2025-12-08
The Summit County Sheriff's Office warned residents of ongoing telephone fraud schemes in which callers impersonate law enforcement and claim victims have outstanding warrants or missed jury duty, demanding payment via prepaid credit cards or gift cards. The Sheriff's Office emphasized that legitimate law enforcement will never call to demand electronic payments and advised residents to hang up on suspicious calls and verify caller identity by independently calling non-emergency dispatch.
bai.org
· 2025-12-08
Visa's Spring 2024 Threats Report reveals that while the number of individual scam reports decreased from June to December 2023, total monetary losses increased, indicating fraudsters are executing more effective and costly schemes. Emerging scams include "pig butchering" (fake cryptocurrency investment schemes targeting 10% of surveyed adults), inheritance scams (affecting 15% of adults), and triangulation fraud (costing merchants up to $1 billion monthly), with fraudsters increasingly leveraging generative AI and other technologies to create more convincing campaigns. Organizational threats are also escalating, including a 300% increase in ransomware cases and an 83% rise in purchase return authorization frau
pbs.org
· 2025-12-08
This educational lesson plan teaches grades 6-12 students to identify and respond to online scams through instruction on recognizing suspicious communications via email, text, and phone calls. Key learning objectives include identifying phishing tactics, understanding how scammers manipulate emotions to bypass logical thinking, and knowing how to report scams to authorities like the FTC and APWG. The lesson emphasizes practical security measures such as using multi-factor authentication, avoiding sharing personal information with unknown contacts, and conducting reverse image searches to verify suspicious profiles.
wmtv15news.com
· 2025-12-08
The Dane County Sheriff's Office warned the public of AI-enhanced grandparent scams where criminals use artificial intelligence to mimic a grandchild's voice and claim they are in danger, pressuring victims to send money in the tens of thousands of dollars. The scam targets elderly grandparents across urban and rural areas, particularly during spring break when college and high school students are away, and succeeds by creating false urgency while telling victims not to contact parents. Law enforcement advises people to hang up and directly call the family member to verify the emergency, adjust social media privacy settings, and listen for robotic tones in the voice recording as a warning sign.
zdnet.com
· 2025-12-08
This article provides six practical tips for avoiding online, phone, and in-person scams, using a personal anecdote about a friend who nearly fell victim to a fake Google support call. Key protective measures include being suspicious of unsolicited emails and messages, verifying links before clicking them, recognizing "too good to be true" offers, and contacting companies directly rather than through unsolicited channels. The author emphasizes that awareness and vigilance are essential defenses against increasingly sophisticated scammers.
nbc15.com
· 2025-12-08
The Dane County Sheriff's Office is warning the public about AI-powered grandparent scams where scammers use artificial intelligence to create realistic voice recordings impersonating grandchildren in distress, pressuring grandparents to send money urgently while threatening not to contact parents. These scams affect victims nationwide across urban and rural areas, with losses reaching tens of thousands of dollars per incident, though AI voices may still have a robotic quality that can serve as a warning sign. Law enforcement advises victims to hang up and call family members directly to verify emergencies and recommends adjusting social media privacy settings to limit scammers' access to personal information.
salinapost.com
· 2025-12-08
The North Central-Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging and Kansas Legal Services launched a free "Scam Scan" seminar series beginning January 24, 2024, to educate older Kansans on recognizing and preventing common scams. The seminars, presented by managing attorney Corinne Petrik, teach attendees how to identify fraudulent emails, phone calls, and text messages while providing practical prevention tips to protect themselves, their money, and personal information. Multiple in-person sessions are scheduled throughout April 2024 at senior centers across Kansas, with additional resources available through their website.
wkow.com
· 2025-12-08
The Dane County Sheriff's Office reports that artificial intelligence is being increasingly used in "Grandparent Scams," where scammers use AI-generated voice recordings created from online videos to impersonate grandchildren in distress and convince seniors to send money. The scam has become more convincing and effective at stealing thousands of dollars from vulnerable elderly victims. Authorities recommend tightening social media privacy settings, hanging up and independently calling family members to verify claims, and reporting suspected scams to local law enforcement.
insidethemagic.net
· 2025-12-08
Scammers posing as Disneyland Resort employees are targeting senior citizens through text messages offering work-from-home jobs with $2,000-$4,000 monthly income and $30-$75 interview payments. These "pig butchering scams" use fake personas to gain trust before manipulating victims into fraudulent investments and payments, exploiting seniors' potential digital illiteracy and the scam's stated age range of 23-80 years old. Reddit users identified red flags including poor grammar, inconsistent fonts, and the fact that legitimate Disney HR would never impose age caps on employment.
channel3000.com
· 2025-12-08
The Dane County Sheriff's Office is warning seniors about AI-powered "Grandparents scams," where criminals use artificial intelligence to clone a grandchild's voice from online videos and convince elderly victims their relative needs emergency financial help. To protect themselves, seniors should limit social media sharing, use strict privacy settings, and verify emergency calls by hanging up and contacting family members directly.
freepressjournal.in
· 2025-12-08
Cyber fraud incidents are escalating in Pune, with 110 victims losing ₹18 crore in January and February alone. A 28-year-old armed forces officer posted at the National Defence Academy lost ₹57 lakh in an online share trading scam after fraudsters impersonating a bank's securities platform lured him with promised returns and then demanded exorbitant commissions to withdraw funds. Police report that fraudsters use social media, fake trading apps, and websites to attract victims with promises of quick profits, initially providing small returns to build trust before preventing withdrawals or demanding excessive fees.
1011now.com
· 2025-12-08
A Lincoln couple, ages 86 and 89, lost $23,000 to a grandparent impersonation scam in which callers claimed to be their grandson and his lawyer, demanding bail money for a fake accident and citation. The victims withdrew cash and gave it to a courier before realizing the deception the following day and contacting police. Lincoln Police recommend that families discuss impersonation scams with elderly relatives and always verify the identity of callers claiming to be family members or legal/financial representatives.
globalnews.ca
· 2025-12-08
A North Vancouver woman lost nearly $2,000 in a "broken phone" scam after receiving text messages impersonating her son in Spain, who claimed he had lost his phone and needed money for payments he couldn't make through banking apps. North Vancouver RCMP reported this was the fourth such incident in the year with total losses exceeding $10,000, and warned that similar scams often originate from 289 area code numbers. The victim's bank declined her fraud claim, and authorities recommend reporting such incidents to police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
ici.radio-canada.ca
· 2025-12-08
Richmond, B.C. RCMP warned of a surge in romance-investment scams that cost victims over $16 million in 2023, with 87 reported cases that year and another 12 cases totaling nearly $500,000 in losses between January and March 2024. Scammers groom victims through dating websites and social media over weeks or months, building trust before convincing them to invest in fraudulent schemes, often involving cryptocurrencies and fake investment returns. Police also issued a warning about a "speeding ticket" text scam designed to steal personal and financial information by directing victims to a fake website mimicking the government's legitimate PayBC payment portal.
abc.net.au
· 2025-12-08
A retired Melbourne police officer lost $479,500 to a romance scam after being contacted online by a woman claiming to be named Dianna, who persuaded him to invest in cryptocurrency through fake platforms. Despite Paul disclosing concerns about the scam to ING Bank and later Macquarie Bank, both institutions failed to adequately warn him or prevent further transfers, with ING's scam team reassuring him he "should be OK" without conducting proper fraud verification. Paul is now awaiting a ruling from the financial complaints watchdog regarding the banks' responsibility in the losses.
morningjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers impersonating U.S. Marshals, court officers, and law enforcement officials are calling victims claiming they owe fines for identity theft, missed jury duty, or civil violations, then pressuring them to pay immediately via cash deposits to bitcoin ATMs to avoid arrest. The scammers use spoofed government phone numbers, real badge numbers, and actual official names to appear credible. The U.S. Marshals Service clarified that it never demands payment by phone or requests financial information, and victims should report such calls to local law enforcement or the Federal Trade Commission.
cavazossentinel.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article from the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division provides guidance on identity protection and outlines common scams targeting soldiers, veterans, and their families. Key recommendations include using strong passwords, password managers, two-factor authentication, and separating work and personal accounts, while growing threats include impersonation scams (where scammers pose as military officials), romance scams targeting those over 50, credit repair fraud, cryptocurrency schemes, social media account takeovers, and two-factor authentication exploitation. Supervisory Special Agent Deric Palmer emphasizes that data brokers sell personal information for as little as $20, enabling social engineering attacks, and warns that impersonation scams cause reputational
journalofaccountancy.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS opened its 2024 Dirty Dozen list of scams with a warning about phishing and smishing scams designed to steal sensitive financial and personal information from taxpayers and tax professionals. Fraudsters impersonate the IRS via deceptive emails and text messages using tactics like fake refund offers or false threats of legal action to trick victims into clicking malicious links or providing personal data that can lead to identity theft. The IRS emphasized it only initiates contact through regular mail, never through email, text, or social media, and provided reporting resources for victims.
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
A 22-year-old man named Zhi Gao was sentenced to two years of probation for his role in defrauding a 65-year-old San Diego woman of over $200,000 in life savings through a multi-stage scam. The scam began with a fake Microsoft pop-up message on her computer, escalated to fraudulent Chase Bank calls claiming account fraud, and resulted in the victim making multiple cash withdrawals of $20,000-$30,000 that she handed to couriers; Gao was arrested during a sting operation while attempting to collect a final $30,000 payment, and has paid $30,000 in restitution
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
A 73-year-old Michigan woman lost approximately $700,000 over several months after being deceived by a scammer posing as a Federal Trade Commission lawyer who claimed she had won a $3.5 million sweepstakes prize and a new car, but needed to send money upfront to secure the winnings. The victim purchased expensive jewelry and wired checks to the fraudster until a friend convinced her the scheme was illegitimate and urged her to contact police, prompting an investigation by Troy Police Department. The case underscores common sweepstakes scam tactics and highlights the importance of recognizing red flags such as unsolicited prize claims, requests for upfront payment, and impersonation
fox47.com
· 2025-12-08
The Dane County Sheriff's Office warns senior citizens about an AI-enabled "Grandparents scam" where criminals use deepfake technology to impersonate grandchildren in distress and request emergency money. To protect themselves, seniors should restrict social media privacy settings to prevent scammers from obtaining video material, and should hang up suspicious calls and contact family members directly to verify claims.
ibtimes.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, Americans reported 2.6 million fraud cases totaling $10 billion in losses, with a median loss of $500 per person—affecting approximately one in four Americans regardless of age or financial literacy. The article identifies three primary scam types to watch for: charitable donation scams using phishing emails and fake websites, romance scams that netted scammers $1.14 billion from 64,003 victims (averaging $2,000 loss per person), and emerging AI-powered deepfake scams capable of impersonating trusted contacts. Key prevention strategies include verifying sender identity through alternate communication channels, conducting reverse image searches on photos, an
the-sun.com
· 2025-12-08
Valerie of Illinois lost nearly $100,000 in a PayPal phishing scam that began with fraudulent billing emails in January 2023. After calling a number in the suspicious emails, a scammer convinced her to download remote access software, then manipulated her account to make it appear he had deposited $100,000 while actually stealing that amount from her savings. She eventually received a full refund in February after local news coverage prompted Blue Ridge Bank to assist, though her initial fraud report from Chase Bank had been declined.
michigansthumb.com
· 2025-12-08
Sebewaing Light and Water utility fell victim to a phishing scam in January when an unknown third party, likely located overseas, posed as a legitimate vendor and fraudulently obtained funds from the utility. Upon discovery of the fraud, staff immediately contacted law enforcement; details remain undisclosed pending the ongoing investigation. The superintendent emphasized that no department employees acted unlawfully and urged residents to be cautious of fraudulent emails and online scams.
fox13news.com
· 2025-12-08
A Highlands County business and a related construction company fell victim to an elaborate $60,725 fraud scheme involving email hacking and romance scam elements. Taufiq Kailani, 47, was arrested in March after a multi-year FDLE investigation; he hacked into one company's email to send fraudulent wire instructions while simultaneously convincing an elderly woman to open a bank account and withdraw the stolen funds as part of a romance scam. The money was subsequently sent overseas and remains unrecovered, highlighting the importance of verifying financial requests through direct phone contact rather than relying on email alone.
greenwichfreepress.com
· 2025-12-08
The IRS launched its annual "Dirty Dozen" awareness campaign warning taxpayers about evolving phishing and smishing scams designed to steal sensitive personal and financial information. Fraudsters impersonate the IRS via unsolicited emails and text messages, using tactics like phony refund offers or false legal threats to trick victims into clicking malicious links or downloading malware. The IRS advises taxpayers and tax professionals to remain vigilant, avoid clicking links in unsolicited communications, and be especially cautious during tax season when such scams peak.