Scammers targeting Pennsylvanians this tax season

The Better Business Bureau has received 65 reports of tax-related scams in Pennsylvania so far this year. Officials are warning taxpayers to remain vigilant as the April 15 filing deadline approaches in two months.

These increasingly sophisticated scams often involve callers impersonating government agents to steal money or personal data. The Better Business Bureau of Western Pennsylvania reports that scammers are preying on consumer confusion regarding recent changes to tax laws.

Scammers use various methods to contact victims, including voicemails that promise savings through programs like the 2025 IRS liability reduction program. Other messages use threatening language to demand immediate payment for back taxes, claiming the recipient will face fines or legal action if they do not comply. To appear more legitimate, these callers often use technology to spoof caller ID displays so the number looks like it belongs to a government agency or bank.

Caitlin Driscoll, a representative with the Better Business Bureau of Western Pennsylvania, said these scammers frequently impersonate Internal Revenue Service agents or officials from legitimate financial institutions.

“They’re really taking advantage of the fact that it is tax season,” Driscoll said. She noted that many scammers now leave voicemails providing a callback number, a fake application ID, or a specific IRS agent identification number to seem more convincing.

“A lot of these scams are leaving VM now, so it’s not just seeing that missed call. They’re providing that call back number. Sometimes an application ID or an IRS agent ID to seem even more convincing,” Driscoll said.

According to Driscoll, the primary objective is to gain access to sensitive data for financial crimes.

“Their overall goal is to try to convince people to sharing sensitive information such as their SS number, even bank acct. details to commit ID theft as well,” Driscoll said.

Taxpayers can take several steps to protect their personal information, including filing returns as early as possible to prevent scammers from filing a fraudulent return first. The IRS also offers an Identity Protection PIN, known as an IP PIN, which is a six-digit number used to confirm a taxpayer’s identity and Social Security number. The IRS will never call a taxpayer to demand immediate payment or require specific payment methods such as wire transfers, gift cards, or prepaid debit cards.

If a resident receives a suspicious call, officials recommend hanging up and contacting the IRS directly. Consumers can also verify company names or phone numbers through the Better Business Bureau website to check for legitimacy.

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