The form that pays you.

Ad: “Claim the Fuel Tax Credit on Form 4136 — ordinary taxpayers / commuting / everyday fuel use gets a big refund.” IRS FS-2024-24: the Fuel Tax Credit is for various non-taxable uses of fuel — off-highway business, farming, aviation, and commercial fishing — and is not available to most taxpayers; social-media schemes drove thousands of inflated refund claims; improper / frivolous claims can mean an IRC 6702(a) $5,000 penalty per return (assessed against each spouse on a joint return). Leave credit dollars blank unless your own eligible off-highway use and Form 4136 support them.

Ad: “File Form 7202 Sick and Family Leave Credit now — self-employed / employees get the pandemic leave credit on current returns.” IRS FS-2024-24: credits for certain self-employed individuals were available on 2020 and 2021 tax year returns during the pandemic and are not available to claim on 2022 or 2023 (or later) tax year returns; one common scheme uses Form 7202 based on income earned as an employee, not as a self-employed individual. Leave credit dollars blank — the FAQs do not publish a household refund amount for this pitch.

Ad: “Add household employees on Schedule H and claim qualified sick / family leave wages for a refund — even if you never paid a household worker.” IRS FS-2024-24: a primary variation invents fictional household employees, then files Schedule H (Form 1040), Household Employment Taxes, to claim a refund based on false sick and family medical leave wages never paid. Frivolous claims can trigger IRC 6702(a) penalties, audits, and possible criminal prosecution. Leave refund dollars blank.

Ad: “Use tax software to enter a made-up Form W-2 or 1099 with large income and withholding — file electronically and get a substantial refund.” IRS FS-2024-24: social-media overstated-withholding schemes tell people to invent large income and withholding amounts plus a fictional employer; variations include Forms W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, 1099-NEC, 1099-DIV, 1099-OID, 1099-B, and related schedules; the IRS verifies withholding — if wages, income, or withholding cannot be verified, the refund is held. File only from legitimate information returns your payer issued. Leave refund dollars blank.

Ad: “Apply for the Employee Retention Credit (ERC / ERTC) — every business qualifies / we determine eligibility in minutes / pay a large upfront fee or a percentage of your refund.” IRS Employee Retention Credit: ERC is a refundable credit for certain eligible employers (businesses and tax-exempt organizations with employees) affected during COVID-19 — not available to individuals; qualified wages after March 12, 2020 and before January 1, 2022; as of the week ending 8/29/2026 the IRS reports about 14,900 remaining ERC claims in various stages. Warning signs of promoters: unsolicited ads/calls/emails/texts; eligibility “within minutes”; large upfront fees; fees based on a percentage of the refund; pressure / refund-anticipation loans; “you qualify” before discussing your tax situation; “every business qualifies” / “nothing to lose.” Incorrect claims can mean repayment, interest, and penalties. Leave credit dollars blank unless your own eligible employment-tax return supports them.

Ad: “Your new Medicare card is ready — send your Medicare number / bank or card details and pay a shipping / activation fee so we can mail it.” FTC government impersonation guidance: Medicare sends cards automatically for free — you never have to do or pay anything; Medicare won’t call, email, text, or message you on social media to sell you anything or tell you to pay for your Medicare card; unexpected asks for your Medicare / bank / credit card numbers for a “new” card are the impersonation pattern. Hang up / ignore; call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Distinct from Issue 4’s OE-season framing — same board status, this row leans on the shipping / pay-for-card pitch. Leave card fees blank — the real card has none.