March 10, 2025
As tax season draws near, businesses are busy preparing financial documents, filing returns, and meeting tight deadlines. Unfortunately, cybercriminals view this hectic period, when business owners and employees are distracted, as an ideal opportunity to attack.
Many hackers aim to exploit sensitive data, scam businesses, and create disorder. In this blog, we will discuss why tax season gives cybercriminals a significant advantage and how you can stay ahead of them.
Why Tax Season Attracts Cybercriminals
1. Increased Exchange Of Sensitive Data
During tax season, sensitive financial and personal information is shared both internally and with external parties like accountants or payroll providers. This creates numerous vulnerabilities for hackers to exploit, particularly through phishing emails.
2. Tight Deadlines Lead To Mistakes
When under pressure to meet deadlines, employees may be less careful about checking emails, links, or file attachments. This increases the chances of falling for phishing scams and malware.
3. Higher Volume Of E-mails
Businesses receive a surge of emails related to forms, payment requests, and compliance updates during tax season. Cybercriminals take advantage of this by sending convincing phishing emails that seem legitimate, aiming to intercept sensitive data.
4. Widespread Scams Targeting Taxpayers
Hackers frequently impersonate trusted organizations like the IRS or tax preparation services to deceive businesses into sharing confidential information or making fraudulent payments.
Common Tax Season Threats You Need To Watch Out For
- Phishing E-mails: Fraudulent messages pretending to be from the IRS, your bookkeeper, or a tax service, requesting sensitive information or directing you to harmful links.
- Fake Invoices Or Payment Requests: Scammers send counterfeit invoices or payment demands to trick businesses into transferring money.
- Ransomware Attacks: Hackers may encrypt critical financial data and demand a ransom for its release.
- Social Engineering: Phone calls or emails impersonating accountants, payroll providers, or other trusted contacts to extract information.
How To Protect Your Business This Tax Season
1. Train Your Team
Educate employees about current scams and how to identify phishing attempts. Instruct them to:
- Verify email senders before opening attachments or clicking links.
- Be cautious of urgent payment requests or unusual account updates.
- Report suspicious emails immediately.
2. Secure Your Communications
Ensure that all data exchanges are encrypted, especially when sharing sensitive tax documents. Use secure portals or file-sharing tools instead of email whenever possible.
3. Implement Multifactor Authentication (MFA)
Require MFA for access to financial systems, email accounts, and any platforms used for tax-related activities. This adds an additional layer of security, even if credentials are compromised. The importance of this feature cannot be overstated; if your password is compromised, MFA can help protect you. If available, please enable it on all your accounts.
4. Conduct A Cybersecurity Audit
Collaborate with your IT provider to identify vulnerabilities in your systems before hackers can exploit them. Focus on:
- Updating software and applying patches.
- Securing network endpoints and devices.
- Verifying the integrity of data backups.
5. Verify All Financial Requests
Double-check payment requests, particularly those involving large amounts or sensitive accounts. Confirm via a second communication method (e.g., a phone call) to ensure authenticity.
Don't Let Hackers Score This Tax Season
Tax season doesn't have to be a free-for-all for hackers. By staying vigilant, educating your team, and implementing proactive cybersecurity measures, you can safeguard your business from becoming a victim.
Let's make sure the only thing you're filing this
season is a successful tax return - not a cybersecurity incident report. Start
with a FREE 15-Minute Discovery Call to uncover potential vulnerabilities and
ensure your systems are ready to handle whatever comes your way.
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