MURFREESBORO, TN (WGNS) - As tax season heats up, the Better Business Bureau is warning Rutherford County residents to be on high alert for tax scams. James Price with the BBB’s Murfreesboro office recently joined WGNS Radio’s “Rutherford Issues” to explain how criminals are stealing personal information and filing fraudulent tax returns—often before the real taxpayer even begins.
“Tax identity theft can be difficult to detect,” Price said. “Many victims don’t realize what’s happened until they try to file their taxes and discover someone else already beat them to it—and claimed their refund.”
Scammers typically gather personal data like Social Security numbers, birthdates, and addresses through phishing emails, fake websites, or data breaches. Once they have what they need, they file early and collect the refund. Victims often find out only when their legitimate return is rejected due to duplication.
Other schemes involve filing returns in the names of deceased individuals or falsely claiming children as dependents. Some residents have received IRS notices about income from employers they’ve never worked for or tax bills for years they didn’t file.
To avoid becoming a victim, Price urges residents to file early, secure their tax documents, and ignore unsolicited messages claiming to be from the IRS. “Never click on suspicious links or share your Social Security number unless you’re absolutely sure it’s a trusted source,” he said.
If you suspect fraud, contact the IRS and ask for help from the Taxpayer Advocate Service. You can also report identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. The BBB encourages victims to use its Scam Tracker to help warn others in the community.
For more information on how to protect yourself this tax season, visit BBB.org or contact James Price at the Murfreesboro BBB office, (615) 893-6565.
Have you or someone you know received a suspicious tax message or notice this year? Sharing those details could help protect others in Rutherford County.
