Earlier this month, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued a press release with a tip for the public about a new scam that has escalated during the upcoming tax filing season. The scheme targets tax professionals specifically and is called the “new client” scam. But it can affect consumers, too. How it works: the cyber scammer poses as a potential client and emails the tax professional to request help with their taxes or asks whether they are accepting new clients. “This phishing email has a malicious link or attachment that the scammer claims is their tax information,” according to the statement. When the tax professional clicks the link or opens the attachment, the fraudster can gain access to the preparer’s “email address, password and…some scammers may also load malware onto the tax pro’s computer to gain access to their system – and their clients’ data.” Scammers can also use the tax professional’s hacked email account to target clients. Individuals should report unsolicited emails that purport to be from the IRS to phishing@irs.gov. And those who have experienced loss of funds due to any IRS-related cyber scam can report the incident to:
Tax Professionals Now a Target
