AI-fueled tax cons are circling San Antonio as the April filing deadline closes in, prompting fresh warnings from local watchdogs. Scammers are using artificial intelligence to fire off convincing fake IRS calls, texts and emails that either promise juiced-up refunds or threaten collection action. Click a link or share personal details, and you could be handing over everything needed for identity theft and fraudulent tax returns.
According to KSAT, Better Business Bureau Senior Director of Communications Jason Meza said the schemes “have surged in recent years” as AI tools get easier to use, with callers pretending to be IRS agents or collectors. Meza told KSAT the IRS typically reaches out by mail, so surprise demands for money or personal data are a major red flag. He recommended reporting sketchy contacts to the BBB, the IRS, the Federal Trade Commission or local law enforcement.
How the Scams Work
Scammers are leaning on AI voice-cloning, spoofed caller ID and counterfeit tax-prep websites to pry loose Social Security numbers, birth dates and bank information, the Better Business Bureau warns. The BBB notes that just a few seconds of recorded audio can be enough to build a startlingly realistic impersonation, turning automated calls and voicemails into persuasive weapons.
The IRS has now added “AI-enabled IRS impersonation by phone” to its 2026 Dirty Dozen list of tax scams and reminds taxpayers it generally makes first contact by mail rather than by phone or unsolicited digital messages.
Fraud Numbers and Who’s Most at Risk
The fraud tab keeps rising. The FBI reports that complaints to its Internet Crime Complaint Center and related cybercrime reporting topped $16.6 billion in losses in 2024. People over 60 were among those reporting some of the heaviest losses, and watchdogs say AI tools only make government-imposter scams sound more believable.
Security experts advise resisting the pressure cooker. Instead of reacting to an urgent text, email or call about your taxes, they recommend stopping to verify the message through official channels first.
How to Protect Yourself and Where to Report
Watchdogs suggest hanging up on unsolicited tax calls, steering clear of links in unexpected texts or emails, and refusing to pay any supposed tax bill with gift cards, cryptocurrency or wire transfers. The IRS outlines common warning signs and asks taxpayers to forward suspicious emails to [email protected] and report impersonation calls to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA).
Consumers can also file complaints at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or log local scams with the BBB Scam Tracker. If you suspect identity theft, the guidance is to contact your bank quickly and consider filing an identity-theft report to help cut off fraudulent refunds.
Local Warning
“The FOMO is real,” Meza told KSAT, explaining how the fear of missing a credit or deduction can push people to bite on a scam. San Antonio consumer groups are urging residents to slow down and double-check any tax-related message by going straight to official sites like IRS.gov or by calling the numbers printed on formal IRS notices.
As the April deadline creeps closer, the local message is simple: pause, verify and report. Save details from suspicious calls or messages, contact your bank if any money has moved, and report scams to TIGTA, the IRS and the FTC so investigators can track operations and help shield other taxpayers.
