Scammers are using your own data against you this tax season, here’s how to stop them

Tax season brings more than just paperwork. It brings a surge in scams, and retirees are squarely in the crosshairs. Criminals know that older Americans are often expecting refunds, may be less familiar with digital red flags, and frequently have stable income and good credit worth stealing.

The result: a flood of fake IRS messages, identity theft schemes, and impersonation attempts that arrive right when you’re most distracted. Incogni gives you the power to do something about it, and 9to5Mac readers can save 58% with promo code 9TO5MAC.

Today’s scams are surprisingly convincing

Gone are the days of obvious typos and suspicious grammar. Modern tax scams are polished. They use real IRS logos, official-looking case numbers, and urgent language designed to make you panic and act fast.

Common tactics include fake emails or texts claiming your account is “under review” and asking you to verify personal information, phony “refund delay” alerts that push you to click malicious links, and impersonation messages pretending to be the IRS or Social Security Administration, often creating a sense of emergency to short-circuit your better judgment.

Here’s the part that catches many people off guard: scammers often include your real name, city, or other personal details in these messages.

That’s not a coincidence. They buy that information from data brokers. These are companies that legally collect and sell personal data including your address, phone number, income estimates, and family connections. That personal touch makes a scam feel real, and that’s exactly the point.

You have more control than you might think

The good news is that you’re not powerless here. Many data brokers are legally required to remove your information when you ask. They just make the process tedious enough that most people never bother.

Incogni handles this for you by submitting removal requests to more than 420 data brokers and monitoring whether those companies comply. Plans start at just $6.39/month (billed annually), with family coverage options and identity theft protection up to $1M available.

Simple steps to stay safer this tax season

You don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to protect yourself. A few habits go a long way:

• Never click links in tax-related emails or texts. Go directly to IRS.gov instead.
• Use strong, unique passwords for your tax software and email accounts.
• Enable two-factor authentication wherever it’s available.
• Consider freezing your credit if you’re not actively applying for new accounts.
• Get your data off broker sites, manually or through Incogni.

Identity theft is financially and emotionally devastating, especially on a fixed income. Taking a few proactive steps now can save a serious headache later.

Incogni has already completed more than 245 million data removal requests using privacy experts and their automatic service. These contact more than 2400 sites, including private data brokers and risky websites. Best of all, Incogni keeps you informed with progress reports along the way so you can regain control of your personal data.

9to5Mac readers can get 58% off Incogni with code 9TO5MAC.