Post-Tax-Season Scams Hitting South Jersey
What to Watch For in 2026

Tax filing deadline came and went last month, but the scammers haven't packed up for the year. In fact, May and June are some of their busiest months — they target the wave of people who are still waiting on refunds, filed late, or had a question come back from the IRS. We've seen a noticeable uptick in local victims this past week, including several customers from Cherry Hill, Voorhees, and Mount Laurel.

The scams have gotten more convincing in 2026, particularly with AI voice cloning making "phone calls from the IRS" sound terrifyingly real. Here's what's making the rounds and how to make sure it doesn't happen to you or someone in your family.

Scam #1: The "Refund Pending — Verify Your Bank Info" Email

You get an email that looks like it's from the IRS or your tax software (TurboTax, H&R Block, FreeTaxUSA). It says your refund is pending and they need you to verify your bank account details to release the funds. The branding looks correct, the email address looks close to legitimate, and there's a button that goes to a fake login page.

How to spot it

• Sender address looks almost right but isn't (irs-refunds.com instead of irs.gov)
• Sense of urgency: "your refund will be released within 24 hours"
• Link in the email goes somewhere other than where it claims to
• Asks for full Social Security number, full bank routing/account info, or password

Scam #2: Fake IRS Phone Calls Using AI Voice

This one has gotten dramatically worse in 2026. Scammers now use AI to clone realistic-sounding voices, complete with what sounds like background office noise. The script is usually: "This is Officer [Name] with the IRS Tax Division. There is a warrant being issued for your arrest related to back taxes. To resolve this matter and avoid arrest, you must pay $X immediately."

They demand payment in gift cards, wire transfer, or — increasingly common — cryptocurrency. They keep the victim on the phone and walk them through the steps, often telling them not to talk to family members or police "for their safety."

Scam #3: "Your Tax Return Was Rejected — Re-Submit Here"

An email or text claims your e-filed return was rejected and you need to re-submit through a "secure portal." The link goes to a page that looks just like a tax software login but is actually capturing your username, password, and Social Security number to use later — either to file fraudulent returns in your name, or to log into your real tax account.

This one is particularly nasty because many people did file electronically and could plausibly have had a rejection. The way to verify: log into the actual tax software you used (typed in by hand, not from the link), and check your filing status there. If it says "Accepted," the email is a fake.

Scam #4: "Identity Verification" Letters That Look Real

This one comes by physical mail and is harder to dismiss. A letter arrives that appears to be from the IRS, asking you to "verify your identity" online by visiting a specific website. The website looks official, has IRS-style branding, and asks you to enter your Social Security number, date of birth, and other identifying info.

The IRS does send identity verification letters — that part is real. But the real letters direct you to idverify.irs.gov. Scam letters direct you to similar-looking URLs that aren't actually IRS-controlled. Always type the URL by hand and double-check it's truly irs.gov before entering anything sensitive.

Scam #5: "Free Tax Help" Pop-Ups That Install Malware

You search for help with your taxes and click an ad or pop-up offering "Free IRS Tax Help — Speak with an agent now." Clicking calls a fake support line where the "agent" walks you through installing remote-access software (TeamViewer, AnyDesk) to "help you." Once they have access, they look through your computer, take what they want, or lock you out and demand payment.

If You Already Fell for One

If you gave away financial information, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or computer access to a scammer:

1. If you gave them remote access to your computer: turn it off (physically unplug it if needed) and bring it to us before turning it back on. Anything they installed needs to be removed cleanly.
2. If you gave bank info: call your bank immediately and ask them to freeze the account and issue a new card.
3. If you gave SSN or filed under your name: place a fraud alert with the credit bureaus and report identity theft at identitytheft.gov.
4. If you sent gift cards or wire transfers: contact the gift card issuer or the wire service — sometimes the money can still be stopped if you act fast.
5. Report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and to the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.

For Seniors and Family Members

Scammers specifically target older adults because they're more likely to live alone, more likely to take a phone call seriously, and less likely to have someone immediately question what they're being told. The single best protection is: before doing anything, hang up and call someone in your family. A scammer's whole strategy depends on isolating the victim. A second voice almost always breaks the spell.

If you have an older parent or relative in South Jersey, take a few minutes to remind them: the IRS doesn't call demanding gift cards, no real agency will threaten immediate arrest, and any "urgent" call asking for payment is a scam. Save our number in their phone if helpful — we'd much rather get a "is this legitimate?" call than fix the aftermath.