Police issue reminder to stay vigilant regarding scams and frauds this upcoming tax season

Release Date: January 8, 2024

Police are providing the public with an early reminder to stay alert during the upcoming 2024 tax season. Specifically, the public is being warned to watch for phishing and smishing scams.

Tax scams and frauds have unfortunately become a staple each year and, around the world, cybercriminals are readying their fraudulent phishing emails and text messages (smishing). Handling your taxes is often a difficult task. So, cybercriminals use this sensitive topic to catch your attention or manipulate your emotions.

Follow the tips below to stay safe during tax season:

• Always think before you click. Cyberattacks are designed to catch you off guard and trick you into clicking impulsively.
• Use extra caution when handling tax documents. For digital documents, use password protection. For physical documents, keep paperwork in a secure location and shred anything that is no longer needed.

Stop, look, and think. Don’t be fooled by the scammers.