Attorney General Ashley Moody has initiated the 2024 Tax Season Scam Series in an effort to assist Floridians in avoiding falling victim to deceitful schemes as Tax Day approaches. In a statement, Moody emphasized the importance of vigilance during tax season, stating, “Scammers may look to exploit the stress many may feel when preparing their taxes to steal personal and financial information. It is crucial to stay on guard against potential schemes—so I am releasing this series to help Floridians avoid falling prey to fraudsters.”
Moody highlighted the significance of filing taxes early as a preventive measure against fraudsters looking to steal tax refunds. She warned that delays in filing could provide scammers with more time to target victims through pre-filing schemes, which have seen a significant increase in fraudulent tax refunds identified by the IRS in recent years.
The Attorney General will focus on various scam types throughout the 2024 Tax Season Scam Series, including Tax Debt Relief Scams and Direct Deposit Refund Scams. Regarding Tax Debt Relief Scams, Moody cautioned that scammers may pose as representatives of companies offering to settle tax obligations at a fraction of the cost, only to disappear after receiving upfront payments. In the case of Direct Deposit Refund Scams, fraudsters impersonate IRS agents and demand immediate refunds through wire transfers or gift cards by claiming errors in the victim's tax return.
To combat tax scams and fraud, Floridians are encouraged to report any suspicious activities to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.FTC.gov. Additionally, the IRS offers online tools such as the ‘Where’s My Refund?’ webtool and the IRS2Go mobile app to track the status of tax refunds.
The Florida Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division issues Consumer Alerts to raise awareness about emerging scams and deceptive practices. Floridians are urged to report any scams to the Florida Attorney General's Office by calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM or visiting MyFloridaLegal.com. More information on avoiding scams and recent Consumer Alerts can be found at MyFloridaLegal.com/ConsumerAlert.