Tax Season Scams and Tax-Themed Phishing
Category
Business and Email
Affects
Residents and businesses
Status
Seasonal
Source
Washoe County Sheriff's Office and Nevada Secretary of State
Fake IRS or state tax notices, bogus tax preparers, and payroll-themed phishing emails spike around filing deadlines. Officials recommend filing early to reduce identity-theft refund fraud, and our blog documented a tax-themed campaign aimed at Reno payroll and HR staff.
How it works
- Emails, texts, or calls claim you owe back taxes or that your refund is on hold.
- Fake preparers promise big refunds and take your information or a fee.
- Phishing messages aimed at businesses use payroll or W-2 requests to steal credentials or employee data.
Red flags
- The IRS starts contact by mail, not by text or threatening phone call.
- A request for W-2 or payroll data from someone you cannot verify.
- A preparer who will not sign the return or who bases fees on the size of your refund.
What to do
- File early and set up an IRS Identity Protection PIN.
- Verify payroll and W-2 requests by phone with a number you already have.
- Report tax scams to the IRS and the FTC, and identity theft at identitytheft.gov.
Already paid or shared information? See the step-by-step checklist and the list of places to report. You can also report to the FTC or the FBI IC3.
Does your group want a short talk on scams? Request a free community talk.
Posted solely for community awareness. This is not an official government or law enforcement notice, and High Sierra Cyber is not affiliated with any agency named here. Board last updated October 10, 2026. Details, phone numbers, and policies change, so confirm with the official agency before acting. Submitted reports are unverified. General information only, not legal or financial advice.