Do you know a cybercriminal’s favorite time of the year? It’s Tax season! Taxes are a sensitive topic that can easily catch your attention and manipulate your emotions. Cybercriminals exploit this time of year by including mentions of taxes in phishing attacks and disinformation campaigns.

Tax season is also a vulnerable time for your sensitive information. Tax documents mailed or transmitted from employers, banks, and other organizations typically include personally identifiable information. If cybercriminals get their hands on this information, they can use it to steal your identity, your money, and more. 

Follow the tips below to stay safe during tax season:

• Always think before you click. Cyberattacks are designed to catch you off guard and trick you into clicking impulsively.
• Use extra caution when handling tax documents. For digital documents, use password protection whenever possible. For physical documents, keep paperwork in a secure location and shred anything that is no longer needed. 
• Be suspicious of emails, text messages, and social media posts that contain shocking information about taxes in your country. These messages could be disinformation, which is false information designed to mislead you.

 
If you suspect you’ve fallen victim to such an attack, report it! 
Check out the IRS Tax Fraud Activity webpage to learn more.