$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
tax refund phishing email scam
An email impersonating the IRS or a tax software company claims you are owed a refund and directs you to a fake website to steal your personal and financial information.
“IRS scam”
↑ 193%Key indicators
Usually targetsTaxpayers
Often hitsFreelancers and contractors
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$3.6K
median reported loss
Typical range$240 – $30K
Recovery rate~12%
Annual reports33,000
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers send mass emails during tax season claiming the IRS has calculated a refund for you.
2
The email contains a link to a convincing replica of the IRS website or a tax software login page.
3
Victims enter their SSN, bank account details, and personal information, which are harvested for identity theft.
What to do first
Do not click links in unsolicited emails claiming to be from the IRS — the IRS does not initiate contact by email.
Related terms
IRS refund email scamfake tax refund notificationtax refund phishingIRS and tax scamsEmailSurgingTaxpayersSelf-employedSmall business ownersFreelancers and contractorsSmall business ownersPayroll, HR, and finance teamsUnited StatesIRS refund email scamfake tax refund notification
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Rebecca, 35, a taxpayers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate irs and tax scams situation while using Email. Scammers send mass emails during tax season claiming the IRS has calculated a refund for you.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: The email contains a link to a convincing replica of the IRS website or a tax software login page.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Victims enter their SSN, bank account details, and personal information, which are harvested for identity theft.
The outcome
Rebecca realized something was wrong when email from a domain that is not irs.gov or your official tax software provider. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Do not click links in unsolicited emails claiming to be from the IRS — the IRS does not initiate contact by email. Rebecca's experience shows why email from a domain that is not irs.gov or your official tax software provider and asks you to click a link and enter your social security number to claim a refund are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Email from a domain that is not irs.gov or your official tax software provider
- Asks you to click a link and enter your Social Security number to claim a refund
- Contains urgent language like 'refund expires' or 'act within 24 hours'
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Do not click links in unsolicited emails claiming to be from the IRS — the IRS does not initiate contact by email.
- ✓Check your refund status only through the official IRS 'Where's My Refund?' tool at irs.gov.
- ✓Forward suspicious IRS-themed emails to [email protected].
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
- ✓Keep the full sender address, domain, attachments, and—if possible—the raw email headers.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- The IRS has stated repeatedly that it does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text, or social media to request personal or financial information.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Do not click links in unsolicited emails claiming to be from the IRS — the IRS does not initiate contact by email.
- ✓Check your refund status only through the official IRS 'Where's My Refund?' tool at irs.gov.
- ✓Forward suspicious IRS-themed emails to [email protected].
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
The IRS has stated repeatedly that it does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text, or social media to request personal or financial information.
FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Taxpayers, Self-employed, Small business owners
Geographic concentration
United States
Primary channel
Email — IRS and tax scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Taxpayers are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The rapid increase in reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- The IRS has stated repeatedly that it does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text, or social media to request personal or financial information.
Source notes
- FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about tax refund phishing email scam
How does the tax refund phishing email scam work?+
Scammers send mass emails during tax season claiming the IRS has calculated a refund for you. The email contains a link to a convincing replica of the IRS website or a tax software login page. Victims enter their SSN, bank account details, and personal information, which are harvested for identity theft.
What are the warning signs of tax refund phishing email scam?+
Email from a domain that is not irs.gov or your official tax software provider Asks you to click a link and enter your Social Security number to claim a refund Contains urgent language like 'refund expires' or 'act within 24 hours'
What should I do if I encounter tax refund phishing email scam?+
Do not click links in unsolicited emails claiming to be from the IRS — the IRS does not initiate contact by email. Check your refund status only through the official IRS 'Where's My Refund?' tool at irs.gov. Forward suspicious IRS-themed emails to [email protected].
Who is most at risk for tax refund phishing email scam?+
This scam primarily targets Taxpayers, Self-employed, Small business owners. It is most commonly reported in United States and typically appears on Email.
Is tax refund phishing email scam getting worse?+
tax refund phishing email scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.
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