Tax Refund Scam Targets College Students and Staff
The IRS says there's a new phishing scam aimed at people with email addresses ending in ".edu."
Here's a new warning from the IRS: Watch out for an IRS-impersonation scam targeting people associated with colleges, universities, and other educational institutions – including students and staff – who have an ".edu" email addresses. The phishing emails appear to target university and college students from both public and private, profit and non-profit institutions.
The fraudulent emails display the IRS logo and use various subject lines such as "Tax Refund Payment" or "Recalculation of your tax refund payment." If you receive one of these emails, you'll be asked to click a link and submit a form to claim your refund. The fake website you'll be taken to will have you provide your:
- Social Security Number
- First Name
- Last Name
- Date of Birth
- Prior Year Annual Gross Income (AGI)
- Driver's License Number
- Current Address
- City
- State/U.S. Territory
- ZIP Code/Postal Code
- Electronic Filing PIN
Do NOT fall for this trick! If you receive this scam email, do not click on the link. Instead, immediately report it to the IRS by (1) saving the email using "save as" and (2) send that attachment to phishing@irs.gov or forward the email as an attachment to phishing@irs.gov.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
If you already received the email and provided the requested information, you should go to the IRS's website and get an Identity Protection PIN right away. This six-digit number will help prevent identity thieves from filing fraudulent tax returns in your name.
Anyone who tries to e-file their tax return and has it rejected because a return with their Social Security number has already been filed should file a Form 14039 to report the possible identity theft. See the IRS's Identity Theft Central website for more information about the signs of identity theft and actions to take.
-
Big Nvidia Numbers Take Down the Nasdaq: Stock Market TodayMarkets are struggling to make sense of what the AI revolution means across sectors and industries, and up and down the market-cap scale.
-
How Medicare Advantage Costs Taxpayers — and RetireesWith private insurers set to receive $1.2 trillion in excess payments by 2036, retirees may soon face a reckoning over costs and coverage.
-
3 Smart Ways to Spend Your Retirement Tax RefundRetirement Taxes With the new "senior bonus" hitting bank accounts this tax season, your retirement refund may be higher than usual. Here's how to reinvest those funds for a financially efficient 2026.
-
3 Smart Ways to Spend Your Retirement Tax Refund
Retirement Taxes With the new "senior bonus" hitting bank accounts this tax season, your retirement refund may be higher than usual. Here's how to reinvest those funds for a financially efficient 2026.
-
5 Retirement Tax Traps to Watch in 2026Retirement Even in retirement, some income sources can unexpectedly raise your federal and state tax bills. Here's how to avoid costly surprises.
-
First the Penny, Now the Nickel? The New Math Behind Your Sales Tax and TotalRounding Tax A new era of "Swedish rounding" hits U.S. registers soon. Learn why the nickel might be on the chopping block, and how to save money by choosing the right way to pay.
-
Over 65? Here's What the New $6K Senior Tax Deduction Means for Medicare IRMAATax Breaks A new tax deduction for people over age 65 has some thinking about Medicare premiums and MAGI strategy.
-
How to Open Your Kid's $1,000 Trump AccountTax Breaks Filing income taxes in 2026? You won't want to miss Form 4547 to claim a $1,000 Trump Account for your child.
-
In Arkansas and Illinois, Groceries Just Got Cheaper, But Not By MuchFood Prices Arkansas and Illinois are the most recent states to repeal sales tax on groceries. Will it really help shoppers with their food bills?
-
7 Bad Tax Habits to Kick Right NowTax Tips Ditch these seven common habits to sidestep IRS red flags for a smoother, faster 2026 income tax filing.
-
10 Cheapest Places to Live in ColoradoProperty Tax Looking for a cozy cabin near the slopes? These Colorado counties combine reasonable house prices with the state's lowest property tax bills.
