Fighting Fraud
By Better Business Bureau Serving Greater Cleveland
As we settle into the 2026 tax season in Northeast Ohio, it’s time to gather those documents and prepare our filings. While this time of year can be a bit of a headache, your local Better Business Bureau® (BBB®) wants to ensure it doesn’t become a heartache.
Scammers are currently working overtime, hoping to use the complexities of the tax code to catch us off guard. They often target our community specifically, banking on high-pressure tactics to cause confusion.
Here is what you need to look out for and how to stay one step ahead of the fraudsters.
Spotting the “Tax Impostor”
Fraudsters often call or leave voicemails pretending to be from official-sounding groups like “U.S. Tax Relief” or the “Tax Resolution Oversight Department”. They want to create a sense of crisis, but remember: knowledge is your best defense.
- The False Alarm: They may claim your file is “flagged for manual review” or that you owe a large amount of back taxes.
- The Bully Tactics: A scammer will try to scare you with threats of immediate arrest, lawsuits, or even taking away your driver’s license.
- The “Gift Card” Red Flag: They will demand payment through untraceable methods like gift cards, wire transfers, or smartphone apps.
Understanding Tax Identity Theft
This occurs when a criminal uses your Social Security number often stolen during a data breach to file a fraudulent return in your name early in the season. Their goal is to snatch your refund before you even sit down to file.
Warning Signs Include:
- The IRS rejected your electronic return as a “duplicate.”
- Receiving mail about wages from an employer you’ve never worked for.
If you’ve been the victim of a scam on social media, report it to the BBB Scam Tracker. Your report helps us build consumer awareness and reduce the effectiveness of scammers’ favorite tactics. Have additional questions? Reach out to your BBB at 216.241.7678 or [email protected].
