If you suddenly get an email suggesting you need to sort your taxes out, beware. The security team at Malewarebytes says there has been a growing trend in tax email scams aimed at catching people out, and falling victim could leave your personal details in the hands of hackers. This is a big time for taxes in the US, with a major deadline set for April 15. Although that might not worry those in the UK, the messages being sent out could still land in inboxes anywhere in the world and clicking on the wrong link could cause significant grief.

As Malewarebytes explains, some of the emails suggest action is required to make sure tax records are up to date. One message seen by the security experts featured an attachment called "Urgent Reminder" which then included a QR code.

If scanned, this opens a fake Microsoft log in window. It's thought that any details entered are instantly sent to Russian hackers, who then sell the data on the dark web or use it themselves to access accounts.

"Tax season is in full force, and with the filing deadline fast approaching on April 15, scammers are happy to use that sense of urgency to coax us into handing them our cash," Malwarebytes explained.

If you get a message this month with a QR code that claims you need to sort your finances, be on high alert.

According to Malwarebytes, it's also worth watching out for emails that sound too good to be true. Huge, unexpected tax returns are usually just an incentive to get you to surrender private information in the hopes of obtaining that sum.

Another sign that something is up is urgency. Scammers do not want you to think things through and often use words that will make you click on links.

Here are some more top tips to help you stay safe.

• Before calling a number, ensure that it is legitimate by visiting the official site directly.

• Beware of unsolicited phone calls or emails, especially those that ask you to act immediately.

• Beware of impersonators who may hide behind sponsored results and instead click on organic search results.

• Always check the website you visit by looking at the address bar. If in doubt, close the page and open a new one.

• If a website asks you for a small fee upfront it likely is trying to get your credit card information to sell you more expensive services.

• Never send sensitive personal information such as your bank account over email.