AP Spotlight PERSONAL FINANCE Tax season is prime time for scams. Here's how to protect yourself WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS Associated Press Mar 30, 2025 Mar 30, 2025 Updated Sep 29, 2025 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save There’s a lot of information (and money) on the table during tax season. That also makes it a prime time for scams.kAm*62C\C@F?5[ 7C2F5DE6CD >2J FD6 2 92?57F= @7 4@>>@? E24E:4D E@ ECJ E@ DE62= J@FC :56?E:EJ[ >@?6J @C @E96C D6?D:E:G6 :?7@C>2E:@?] pD J@F AC6A2C6 J@FC 2??F2= E2I C6EFC?[ 5F6 pAC:= `d[ 6IA6CED DEC6DD :E’D :>A@CE2?E E@ 36 6IEC2 G:8:=2?E]k^AmkAm%9:D J62C[ D42>>6CD >:89E E2<6 A2CE:4F=2C 25G2?E286 @7 F?46CE2:?EJ DE6>>:?8 7C@> C646?E H@C<7@C46 4FED :>A24E:?8 E9@FD2?5D @7 ;@3D 2E E96 &]$] x?E6C?2= #6G6?F6 $6CG:46] %96D6 =2J@77D 2?5 E96 A@E6?E:2= 7@C 6G6? >@C6 H:56DAC625 C65F4E:@?D 2=D@ C2:D6 BF6DE:@?D 23@FE C6D@FC46D[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 x#$’D 32?5H:5E9 E@ C6DA@?5 E@ D42>D C6A@CE65 3J 4@?DF>6CD]k^Am People are also reading… Where to watch Nebraska baseball at Kansas today: Time, TV channel Nebraska volleyball notes: Cogill making push at middle, back row booms, funky fourth set Watch Nebraska vs Creighton volleyball game today No. 6 Nebraska softball takes Big Ten lead with rout of Minnesota, Washington loss Nebraska baseball defeats No. 12 USC 12-2 to win series Nebraska baseball drops battle with Kansas 9-7 Lincoln police find 14-year-old girl missing since Wednesday Substitute teacher allegedly made 'concerning' statements to Raymond Central students Where Nebraska football players have signed free agent deals after 2026 NFL draft Nebraska officials weigh in on multimillion-dollar Omaha contract prior to approval Nebraska-Northern Colorado live updates, stats and highlights Nebraska softball sweeps Iowa in Friday doubleheader Standing Bear director remains 'fully committed' to finish film despite funding halt Woman killed by Omaha police during Walmart attack had history of violence, schizophrenia Nebraska basketball forward Ugnius Jarusevicius enters transfer portal kAmw6C6’D H92E E@ <?@H 23@FE E2I D42>D 2?5 9@H E@ DE2J D276ik^Amk9amx56?E:7J D:8?D @7 D42>Dk^9amkAm%2I D42>>6CD >2J ECJ E@ C6249 J@F :? 2 ?F>36C @7 5:776C6?E H2JD — 7C@> =@@<2=:<6 6>2:=D[ E6IED @C A9@?6 42==D :>A6CD@?2E:?8 E96 x#$ E@ F?D@=:4:E65 D@4:2= >65:2 @776CD E92E AC@>:D6 2 DFDA:4:@FD=J 9:89 C67F?5] qFE E96C6 2C6 2 92?57F= @7 4@>>@? C65 7=28D E@ <66A 2? 6J6 @FE 7@C[ :?4=F5:?8ik^AmkF=mk=:m$6?D6 @7 FC86?4J]k^=:mk=:mxD@=2E:@? E24E:4D @C E9C62ED]k^=:mk=:m!C@>:D6D @7 2 3:8 A2J52J]k^=:mk=:m$FDA:4:@FD H63D:E6 =:?<D]k^=:mk^F=m kAmrJ36CD64FC:EJ 6IA6CED DEC6DD E92E D42>>6CD AC6J @? 6>@E:@? — 2?5 H:== @7E6? ECJ E@ 6G@<6 762C @C F?46CE2:?EJ] |2?J E2I D42>D H:== 2D< J@F E@ 24E 72DE @C 4=:4< @? 2 >2=:4:@FD =:?< C:89E 2H2J] ~E96CD H:== >2<6 J@F E9:?< J@F 5:5 D@>6E9:?8 HC@?8[ 8@:?8 2D 72C 2D E9C62E6?:?8 2? 2CC6DE :7 J@F 5@?’E C6DA@?5] $42>>6CD >2J 2=D@ :D@=2E6 J@F 7C@> 4@?E24E:?8 @E96CD[ DF49 2D 2 ECFDE65 244@F?E:?8 AC@76DD:@?2= @C 6G6? 2 72>:=J >6>36C]k^AmkAm|2?J E2I D42>D 2=D@ 25G6CE:D6 3:8 A2J@FED[ 3FE 2E 2 AC:46] $@>6 “89@DE” AC6A2C6CD[ 7@C 6I2>A=6[ H:== 492C86 J@F 7@C AC6A2C:?8 J@FC E2I C6EFC? — @7E6? H:E9 AC@>:D6D @7 >2I:>:K:?8 J@FC C67F?5 — 3FE ?6G6C D:8? :E] %96J >2J E96? 7:=6 2 7C2F5F=6?E C6EFC? :? J@FC ?2>6[ H:E9 2? :?7=2E65 :?4@>6 @C 72<6 565F4E:@?D E@ 3@@DE E96 C67F?5[ 2?5 DH:E49 E96 32?< 244@F?E =:DE65 E@ 4=2:> J@FC >@?6J]k^Am kAm%96 x#$ H:== ?6G6C :?:E:2E6 4@?E24E G:2 6>2:=[ E6IE @C D@4:2= >65:2 H:E9 C6BF6DED 7@C J@FC A6CD@?2= :?7@C>2E:@? — 2?5 FC86D 4@?DF>6CD E@ @?=J FD6 ECFDE65[ 244C65:E65 E2I AC@76DD:@?2=D :7 J@F ?665 96=A AC6A2C:?8 J@FC C6EFC?] %9@D6 H9@ 92G6 72==6? G:4E:> E@ D42>D 2C6 2=D@ 6?4@FC2865 E@ C6A@CE E96>] *@F 42? 7:?5 >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@? @? E96 286?4J’D @77:4:2= H63D:E6]k^Am Personal-finance Tax tips to avoid common mistakes so you don't miss out on savings | PennyWise podcast Nat Cardona Lee Media Studio k9am(92E’D 5:776C6?Enk^9amkAm%2I D42>D 42? 36 2== E96 >@C6 4@?G:?4:?8 :7 E96J >66E E96 >@>6?E] %9:D J62C[ 6IA6CED H2C? E92E 4J36C 4C:>:?2=D @C “D@4:2= 6?8:?66CD” >:89E E2<6 A2CE:4F=2C 25G2?E286 @7 F?46CE2:?EJ 2C@F?5 E96 x#$ 4FED]k^Am kAm“&?46CE2:?EJ :D AC@323=J @?6 @7 E96 3:886DE >@E:G2E:?8 6>@E:@?D E92E D@4:2= 6?8:?66CD E2<6 25G2?E286 @7[” D2:5 s2G6 r9C@?:DE6C[ 2 AC@>:?6?E “6E9:42= 924<6C” 2?5 rt~ @7 !2C2>6E6C $64FC:EJ[ ?@E:?8 E92E D42>>6CD >:89E FD6 ?6HD @7 E96D6 4FED 2?5 :>A6CD@?2E6 E96 x#$ E@ 72=D6=J AC@>:D6 E2IA2J6CD “?6H” H2JD @7 7:=:?8]k^Am kAmq6J@?5 9@H D42>>6CD FD6 E96 ?6HD[ E96 x#$ H@C<7@C46 4FED 4@F=5 D=@H E96 286?4J’D 23:=:EJ E@ 24EF2==J C6DA@?5 E@ D42>D[ r9C@?:DE6C 2?5 @E96CD ?@E6] pD 2 C6DF=E[ >2=:4:@FD H63D:E6D @C AC652E@CJ D@4:2= >65:2 42>A2:8?D >2J ?@E 36 E2<6? 5@H? 2D BF:4<=J — 2?5 G:4E:>D @7 7C2F5F=6?E C6EFC?D 4@F=5 92G6 E@ H2:E =@?86C 7@C 2?DH6CD]k^Am kAm“%96C6 :D A@E6?E:2= 7@C C65F465 @G6CD:89E[” D2:5 r9C:D !:6CD@?[ 49:67 6I64FE:G6 @7 4J36CD64FC:EJ 7:C> q=24<r=@2<] “x7 J@F 92G6 =6DD :?5:G:5F2=D E@ 36 AC@24E:G6 H:E9:? 2? 286?4J E92E :D 9@FD:?8[ x >62?[ 2? 2>2K:?8 EC62DFC6 EC@G6 @7 52E2 2?5 :?7@C>2E:@? — E92E @3G:@FD=J :D 4@?46C?:?8 … W2?5 4@F=5X 4C62E6 2 C:D<:6C 6?G:C@?>6?E 7@C E96 4@?DF>6C]”k^AmkAmpD<65 7@C 4@>>6?E[ E96 x#$ A@:?E65 E@ :ED “s:CEJ s@K6?” =:DE @7 4@>>@? E2I D42>D E@ H2E49 @FE 7@C E9:D J62C[ 2>@?8 @E96C DE6AD E2IA2J6CD 42? E2<6 E@ AC@E64E E96>D6=G6D 7C@> :56?E:EJ E967E 2?5 7C2F5] %96 286?4J 5:5 ?@E :>>65:2E6=J 4@>>6?E @? H96E96C C646?E @C 7FEFC6 H@C<7@C46 4FED H@F=5 :>A24E :ED 6?7@C46>6?E C6D@FC46D]k^Am kAm$42>D 2=D@ 2C6 364@>:?8 >@C6 D@A9:DE:42E65[ >@DE C646?E=J E92?<D E@ E96 C:D:?8 25@AE:@? @7 86?6C2E:G6 2CE:7:4:2= :?E6==:86?46] tIA6CED H2C? E92E E9:D E649?@=@8J :D 36:?8 FD65 E@ 4C62E6 “9JA6C\C62=:DE:4” A9:D9:?8 >6DD286D[ :?4=F5:?8 G:56@ @C 2F5:@ 566A72<6D[ 2?5 42? 2==@H D42>>6CD E@ E2C86E >@C6 A6@A=6 2E @?46 E9C@F89 2FE@>2E:@?]k^Am kAm!:6CD@? 2=D@ H2C?D @7 E96 72==@FE 7C@> C646?E 9:89\AC@7:=6 52E2 3C62496D 4@F=5 =625 E@ >@C6 7C2F5F=6?E 7:=:?8D[ @C “4@?7:56?46 D42>D” — H96C6 4J36C 4C:>:?2=D D92C6 @?6 A:646 @7 :?7@C>2E:@? E96J 92G6[ =:<6 2? 255C6DD[ E@ 86E A6@A=6 E@ ECFDE E96> 2?5 D92C6 >@C6]k^Am Personal-finance Should you use your tax refund to pay off debt? Lauren Schwahn, NerdWallet k9amw@H 42? x AC@E64E >J :?7@C>2E:@? 2?5 >@?6Jnk^9am kAm%2IA2J6CD 42? A=2J :E D276 3J DE:4<:?8 E@ H92E E96J <?@H]k^AmkAm“x7 J@F’G6 2=H2JD 366? FD:?8 %FC3@%2I[ FD6 %FC3@%2I] x7 J@F 2=H2JD FD6 2? 244@F?E2?E[ FD6 J@FC 244@F?E2?E[” r9C@?:DE6C D2:5]k^AmkAmw6 ?@E6D E92E J@F D9@F=5 2=D@ <66A J@FC :?7@C>2E:@? D276 3J A2DDH@C5\AC@E64E:?8 2?J A2DE 7:=:?8D 5@H?=@2565 E@ J@FC 56G:46 2?5 FD:?8 2 '!} H96? @? AF3=:4 (:\u:]k^Am kAm%96 x#$ 2=D@ DF886DED D6EE:?8 FA 2? :56?E:EJ AC@E64E:@? !x}[ 2 D:I\5:8:E ?F>36C E92E 42? 96=A AC@E64E J@F 7C@> D@>6@?6 6=D6 7:=:?8 :? J@FC ?2>6] *@F 42? 2=D@ 7C66K6 J@FC 4C65:E — H9:49 6IA6CED C64@>>6?5 2D 2? 25565 =:?6 @7 5676?D6 282:?DE 7FEFC6 :56?E:EJ E967E 2?5 7C2F5[ 6G6? :7 J@F 92G6?’E 366? D42>>65] uC66K:?8 J@FC 4C65:E AC6G6?ED 2?J ?6H 4C65:E 244@F?ED 7C@> 36:?8 4C62E65 :? J@FC ?2>6] *@F 42? 2=H2JD E6>A@C2C:=J “F?7C66K6” :7 2 4964< :D ?66565 E@ C6?E 2? 2A2CE>6?E @C 2AA=J 7@C 2 =@2?]k^Am kAmrC65:E 7C66K6D 42? 36 D6E FA E9C@F89 E9C66 ?2E:@?H:56 4C65:E 3FC62FDi tBF:72I[ tIA6C:2? 2?5 %C2?D&?:@?]k^Am Personal-finance Are you on track for retirement? Here’s how to check Erin El Issa, NerdWallet Personal-finance These little-known bank accounts allow Americans with disabilities to save and invest CORA LEWIS Associated Press 0 Comments The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Mortgage company Rocket buying Mr. Cooper in all-stock deal valued at $9.4 billion Rocket said Monday that bringing Mr. Cooper Group Inc. into the fold will create a business representing one in every six mortgages in the Uni… Avoid these IRA traps for better retirement planning From contributions to conversions to distributions, don't fall into these traps when managing your IRA. 4 steps to take toward financial spring cleaning If you started the year hopeful but now feel anxious, channel those negative emotions into action. Here are some financial tasks to focus on t… Recommended for you Watch Now: Related Video Unable to play video AP top stories April 26 Fans wait to get into Zach Bryan concert Fans wait to get into Zach Bryan concert AP top stories April 25 AP AP top stories April 25 Arbor Day in Augustine Park Arbor Day in Augustine Park
Personal-finance Tax tips to avoid common mistakes so you don't miss out on savings | PennyWise podcast Nat Cardona Lee Media Studio
Personal-finance These little-known bank accounts allow Americans with disabilities to save and invest CORA LEWIS Associated Press
Mortgage company Rocket buying Mr. Cooper in all-stock deal valued at $9.4 billion Rocket said Monday that bringing Mr. Cooper Group Inc. into the fold will create a business representing one in every six mortgages in the Uni…
Avoid these IRA traps for better retirement planning From contributions to conversions to distributions, don't fall into these traps when managing your IRA.
4 steps to take toward financial spring cleaning If you started the year hopeful but now feel anxious, channel those negative emotions into action. Here are some financial tasks to focus on t…
