{"id":362,"date":"2025-02-20T12:03:53","date_gmt":"2025-02-20T17:03:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/phish-files\/?p=362"},"modified":"2026-02-23T10:29:35","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T15:29:35","slug":"tax-season-scams-are-you-ready","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/phish-files\/2025\/02\/20\/tax-season-scams-are-you-ready\/","title":{"rendered":"Tax Season Scams: Are you ready?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tax season is a prime time for cybercriminals to target students, faculty, and staff with scams and identity theft. Protecting your personal and financial information is crucial. Here\u2019s how you can stay safe.<\/span><\/p>\n

Common Tax Scams<\/strong><\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Phishing Emails & Messages<\/strong> \u2013 Fake emails pretending to be from the IRS or tax companies asking for personal details.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Fake Tax Preparers<\/strong> \u2013 Scammers posing as professionals to steal your information or refund.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Identity Theft<\/strong> \u2013 Criminals file fraudulent tax returns using stolen information.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Malware & Ransomware<\/strong> \u2013 Clicking malicious links or downloading attachments can expose your data.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    How to Protect Yourself<\/h2>\n
      \n
    1. Ignore Suspicious Emails & Links<\/strong> \u2013 The IRS won\u2019t email, text, or contact you on social media for personal info.<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. Use Strong Passwords & MFA<\/strong> \u2013 Secure your tax accounts with complex passwords and multi-factor authentication.<\/span>
      \n<\/span><\/p>\n