With the tax filing deadline fast approaching, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) in San Antonio is warning taxpayers about a growing and increasingly sophisticated threat: scams powered by artificial intelligence.
From fake Internal Revenue Service (IRS) cellphone calls to highly convincing emails and text messages, scammers use A.I. technology to trick people into handing over sensitive personal and financial information.
According to BBB Senior Director of Communications Jason Meza, the scams have surged in recent years as A.I. tools become more accessible.
“The IRS has seen a record number of calls come in,” said Meza. “We’re seeing a lot more calls, emerging calls of A.I., impersonating the IRS, impersonating collectors, tax collectors, debt collectors trying to get you to pay up or face penalties or jail time.”
Meza said the calls are a significant red flag because the IRS does not typically contact taxpayers through phone calls, text messages or email.
“The IRS traditionally does not use these services. In fact, they will use snail mail. You will get that mail, that correspondence via the mail,” said Meza. “If it comes to you inbound, unsolicited, you didn’t reach out for information, treat everything with caution.”
Meza said some victims receive messages claiming they qualify for new tax credits or larger refunds.
“I think consumers have a real fear of missing out. The FOMO is real,” said Meza. “They think they’re missing a big deduction or tax credit on their behalf. They think that they might get more money back. So the temptation is out there for them to take the bait.”
Meza warns that clicking on the scam links can lead to providing personal information like Social Security numbers and birth dates, which can lead to identity theft.
If you believe you’ve been targeted by a scam, Meza recommends reporting it immediately to the BBB, the IRS, the Federal Trade Commission, or local law enforcement agencies.
