Tax scams are becoming more convincing, making it important for Americans to recognize warning signs before sharing money or personal information.

Scammers may pretend to represent the IRS through phone calls, texts, emails, social media messages, or fake letters. The IRS warns taxpayers to be cautious when an unexpected message creates urgency, threatens immediate consequences, promises unusually large refunds, or pressures someone to provide personal or financial information.

Taxpayers should also be careful when choosing a tax return preparer. A major warning sign is a preparer who refuses to sign the return or does not provide a valid Preparer Tax Identification Number. Consumers should also question anyone who promises an unusually large refund before reviewing their financial information.

Remember that taxpayers are generally responsible for the information submitted on their tax returns, even when another person prepares the return. Never sign a blank or incomplete tax form, and review important numbers before authorizing a return to be filed.

Another useful protection is an IRS Identity Protection PIN, commonly called an IP PIN. This additional security measure can help prevent someone from filing a fraudulent federal tax return using another taxpayer’s identity.

If a suspicious message claims to come from the IRS, avoid immediately clicking links, sending payments, or sharing Social Security numbers, banking information, or passwords.

Tax season should be about filing correctly—not fighting fraud. Staying alert and verifying unusual requests can protect both your refund and your identity.