Steps to Take Now as Scammers Keep Targeting Tax Professionals

“Hello,” the email began. The sender apologized for the delay, adding, “unfortunately I fell ill but am back up and running.”

“I have already applied for an extension,” she advised, but had uploaded her tax documents for 2021. The file was encrypted, so she noted the password, adding, “Thank you for taking me on and working with me this tax season! Have a good weekend!”

I received that email—or variations on it—about six times. This version was signed “Christen Jones.”

“Christen” is clearly a scammer.

She’s not the only scammer targeting my inbox this season. In the past few weeks, ...