March 10, 2026— Susana Mendoza is warning residents to remain vigilant about tax-related scams as the filing season continues.
Mendoza said taxpayers should be cautious when sharing personal information, especially as they gather documents and file returns.
“This is the time of year when you’re dealing with a lot of personal information including Social Security and bank account numbers,” Mendoza said. “You’ve got to be careful not to fall victim to con artists looking to steal your identity and your money.”
According to a January 2026 report from McAfee, 23% of people surveyed reported losing money to a tax scam, with an average loss of about $1,020.
Officials say one of the most common scams involves criminals impersonating representatives from the Internal Revenue Service. These messages may arrive by phone, text or email and often attempt to pressure recipients to provide personal or financial information.
Warning signs that a message may be fraudulent include unexpected contact, urgent or threatening language, promises of refunds or tax credits, or requests for immediate payment.
Scammers may also send messages claiming a tax refund has been delayed and asking recipients to click a link to verify personal information. Those links often lead to websites designed to look like official government pages but are intended to steal sensitive data.
The Illinois Department of Revenue has also warned residents about fraudulent communications posing as the agency. Officials advise taxpayers to verify any suspicious messages by contacting the agency directly through its official website.
Other scams reported during the tax season include fraudulent tax preparers advertising large refunds on social media, text messages claiming taxpayers were overcharged and phone calls from people posing as enforcement officials demanding immediate payment.
Taxpayers can also track the status of their state refund using the Find My Refund tool available through the Illinois Office of Comptroller website. The office said it typically issues refunds within 24 to 48 hours after receiving authorization from the Department of Revenue.
More than 822,000 taxpayers signed up for notifications through the tool last year.
The deadline to file federal and state income tax returns this year is April 15.
