Scam and Fraud Prevention Center
How to prevent scams this tax season
Tax scams pressure people into sharing personal info or paying fake tax bills. Here’s how to stay safe.
Scammers pose as the IRS to demand money for a fake tax bill.
Expect IRS contact by mail — not calls, texts, or emails.
Don’t act on urgent payment demands without confirming through the IRS.
Never share bank details or Social Security numbers unexpectedly.
Beware of requests to pay with gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
Fake tax preparers file false returns or steal personal information.
Avoid anyone promising unusually large refunds.
Research tax services before sharing personal data.
Choose preparers with a valid IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN).
Make sure your preparer signs your tax return.
Scammers claim you’re owed a tax refund.
Ignore refund texts or emails — the government wouldn't send them.
Don’t share personal or bank information to “claim” a refund.
Check refund status only through official IRS tools.
File early and use secure methods to reduce the risk of fraud.
If you believe any of your accounts have been compromised, contact your financial institutions immediately to protect your funds and prevent losses. Greenlight’s external account monitoring helps you track activity across accounts held at other financial institutions to detect suspicious activity, prevent incremental losses from fraud, and keep your accounts secure from unauthorized use.
How to manage Greenlight’s external account monitoring alerts for unusual account activity
How to utilize Greenlight Family Shield’s identity theft and deceptive transfer insurance coverage
Were you a victim of a data breach or identify theft? You can place credit freezes or fraud alerts with the three major credit reporting bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and Transunion. The Federal Trade Commission provides resources on how to get started.
$16.6B — Amount of fraud losses reported in 2024
Link accounts to catch suspicious activity.
Monitor finances, flag unusual activity, and be ready for emergencies with Family Shield.