Please Be Advised: Property Tax Scam Targeting Seniors 

August 19, 2026 – Mariposa County property owners should be aware of a scam circulating online and by phone involving a fake 1098-SR form.

There is no IRS Form 1098-SR that allows seniors to reduce or freeze their property taxes. Scammers are using videos, social media posts, and phone calls to promote the non-existent form and may ask for personal information.

Protect yourself:

• Do not provide personal or financial information to someone who contacts you unexpectedly about a property tax program.
• Do not click links or submit information through websites claiming to process a 1098-SR form.
• Verify property tax relief programs directly with your county assessor or another official government source.
• If you believe you have encountered a scam, report it to the appropriate authorities.

California does have legitimate property tax programs for eligible homeowners. These include the Homeowners’ Exemption, Proposition 19, and the Property Tax Postponement Program, which is administered by the State Controller’s Office.

None of these programs are related to any non-existent 1098-SR form.

Information from scammers can sound real, so when in doubt, stop and verify using information from an official government website or by contacting the agency yourself through a known, legitimate phone number.

Please share this information with family members, friends, and neighbors who may be targeted by this scam.

Source: Mariposa County