The Brian Lehrer Show Avoiding IRS Tax Scams
Apr 8, 2026
Kelly Phillips Erb, a tax attorney and Forbes writer behind TaxGirl, explains how scammers exploit new tax-law confusion. She breaks down phishing, smishing, fake mail and phone spoofing. Listeners share stories about targeting of seniors and recovery limits after fraud. Practical warnings on clicking links, calling back, and reporting appear throughout.
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AI Has Supercharged IRS Impersonation Scams
- AI has made IRS impersonation scams far more convincing by removing obvious red flags like typos.
- Brian Lehrer notes the FBI reported $400M losses in 2024 and AI lets scammers craft realistic messages and voices.
Ignore Preapproval Offers For New Deductions
- Avoid offers that promise pre-approval or eligibility checks for new tax provisions like the no tax on Social Security.
- Kelly Phillips Erb says there is no pre-approval for deductions under the One Big Beautiful Bill and such offers are scams to get money or data.
Never Click IRS Links Use IRS.gov Directly
- Do not click links, open attachments, or scan QR codes from unsolicited emails or texts claiming to be the IRS.
- Kelly Phillips Erb advises instead to go directly to IRS.gov and set up a free IRS online account to check notices and refunds.