The average tax scam victim loses $1,020 - and they're younger than you'd think

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ZDNET's key takeaways

• Tax scams are turning many people into victims.
• Protect yourself by not responding to a tax-related call or message.
• If you've been victimized, report the crime and secure your accounts.

Tax season is upon us, and that means cybercriminals are busy cooking up scams designed to steal money or other sensitive information from unsuspecting taxpayers. Thanks to AI, falling for this type of scam may be easier than you think, at least according to the folks at technology specialist McAfee.

Also: The best tax software for a stress-free tax season

Released on Tuesday, McAfee's 2026 Tax Season Survey sheds light on how tax scams work, how they reach people, and who's getting hit the hardest. The survey also offers several tips on how to avoid such scams and ...