News & Stories

January 2026

Alert: Tax Season is Prime Time for IRS Scams

YouDuring tax season, scammers work overtime to try to steal your money. We at Hanmi Bank would like to remind our valued customers to be extra vigilant.

Scammers are notoriously active during this period, especially by impersonating IRS agents. They may also spoof phone numbers that appear in your caller ID so it appears that the call is coming from the IRS.

The Scammer Playbook

Scammers often use urgent and alarming tactics to trick people quickly:

• Fear and Urgency: They may use threatening language, claiming you owe overdue taxes and risk immediate arrest, license revocation, or deportation if you don’t pay up instantly.
• Impersonation: Communications often look legitimate, using official-looking emails or texts, and phone calls may even use fake caller ID to appear as an official government number.
• Unusual Payment Demands: They will demand payment via specific, untraceable methods like gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. The IRS will never do this.

How to Protect Yourself and Your Finances

Here are essential tips to help you stay safe this tax season:

Report: Send the caller ID and callback number to the IRS to phishing@irs.gov. The subject line should include “IRS Phone Scam.”

Know the Official Communication Method: The IRS initiates most communication through official letters sent via the U.S. Postal Service. They will not typically call, email, or text you initially.

Never Click Links: Be highly suspicious of any unsolicited email or text message claiming to be from the IRS. Do not click on any links or download attachments, as they can install malware or lead to fake websites designed to steal your personal information.

Verify, Don’t Trust: If you’re concerned about a potential tax issue, do not use the contact information provided in suspicious communication. Instead, contact the IRS directly using the official numbers listed on the IRS.gov website.