irs scams: When its Tax Time, Protect Your Identity
- 02/25/21 10:21 PM
Tax time comes around every year, and though you technically have until April 15th each year, if you can, file earlier. There is a good reason for this; you can avoid putting yourself in a position to get your identity stolen. How Filing Your Taxes Can Compromise Your Identity You might be wondering how you can become a victim of an identity thief just by filing your taxes. There are a couple of ways scammers do this. First, the thief will use your Social Security number to file taxes, but plug in their mailing address and then when your refund comes around, they … (9 comments)
irs scams: Be Aware of These IRS Stimulus Check Scam Tactics
- 12/02/20 11:50 AM
The IRS has taken the step of urging taxpayers to be aware of emails and calls that can lead to people giving up their personal info to cybercriminals. The IRS has been telling taxpayers to take more care than before during this time. They has also reminded people that the IRS does not call taxpayers to collect or verify financial information in order to get a faster refund. The IRS also will never email nor text you asking for any information. Cyberthieves have been taking advantage of people in times of trouble, and now that we are literally in the middle of a … (22 comments)
irs scams: Beware of IRS Stimulus Check Scams
- 04/22/20 09:23 AM
The IRS has been urging taxpayers to be aware of calls and emails that might lead victims to give up their personal information to cyberthieves. IRS Commissioner, Chuck Rettig, has been urging people to take more care during this time. He reminds taxpayers that the IRS won’t ever call to verify or collect financial information in order for you to get your refund faster. The IRS will also never email taxpayers asking for this information. Fraudulent text messages are also on the rise. Cybercriminals have always taken advantage of times of trouble, and now that we are in the throes of coronavirus, they … (5 comments)
irs scams: It’s Tax Time: Play it Safe or Lose Your Identity
- 03/12/20 05:33 AM
Once again, tax time has rolled around, and though you technically have until April 15th, it’s always best to file a bit earlier…especially if you want to avoid setting yourself up for ID theft. How Could Filing Taxes Compromise Your Identity? Here’s how you could become a victim of ID theft just by filing your taxes: the first method is that a thief uses your Social Security number to file taxes, and then they steal your refund. The second method that they use is they take your Social Security number, get a job while using your Social Security number, and then their employer … (7 comments)
irs scams: Two Common Government Employee Impersonation Scams: What to Watch For
- 08/27/19 07:22 AM
One of the biggest threats that taxpayers are facing these days is an aggressive scam where criminals call victims and pretend to be IRS agents. The goal? To steal money. All year but especially during tax filing season, the IRS will see a big surge in the number of scam calls, which tell victims that they will be arrested, deported, or have their driver’s license revoked if they don’t pay a fake tax bill. How the Scams Work These scammers make calls to people and claim to be from the IRS. They inform the victim that they have an unpaid tax bill, that must … (2 comments)
irs scams: Beware of these 4 Scams
- 08/24/16 11:56 PM
IRS The e-mail (or phone call) says you owe money; if you don’t pay it immediately, you’ll be put in jail or fined.The scammer may know the last four digits of the victim’s Social Security number. Caller ID will be spoofed to look like the call is from the IRS. The e-mail will include an IRS logo and other nuances to make it look official. The scammer may also have an accomplice call the victim pretending to be a police officer. The victim is scared into sending the “owed” money—which goes to the thief. Or, the thief gets the victim to … (3 comments)
irs scams: How to prevent IRS scams
- 03/08/16 09:52 PM
Once a thief knows your Social Security number…you’re at very high risk for having your identity stolen. A report on bankrate.com says that the IRS is warning of a cyber attack on its electronic filing PIN application. Thieves infiltrated it with malware in an attempt to claim other people’s refunds as their own. Over 450,000 SSNs were involved, and over 100,000 of them enabled the hackers to access an E-file PIN. Endless scams are directed towards SSNs, like the classic phishing attack. A phishing attack basically goes as follows: An e-mail arrives with an alluring or threatening subject line, which may actually be … (2 comments)
irs scams: Tell your Grams about these Scams
- 08/21/15 12:05 AM
Do we really get wiser with old age, or just more vulnerable to all the scammers out there? Here are the top scams directed towards senior citizens.
IRS The phone rings; it’s from the IRS, claiming you owe money. Caller ID says IRS (spoof technology). Caller says if you don’t pay within 24 hours, you’re going to jail. Caller wants your bank account information and routing number, or wants you to wire what you owe. Or, caller says IRS owes you, but to get the refund, you must pay a processing fee within 24 hours. The IRS never calls people … (6 comments)
irs scams: Reports say Russians hacked IRS Identities
- 07/21/15 11:59 PM
CNN recently reported that the data breach of the IRS, which occurred between this past February and May, originated from Russia. The crooks were able to steal tax returns from over 100,000 people. The thieves filed a total of $50 million in tax refunds, having obtained personal data to get ahold of the data. In other words, this crime wasn’t a hacking job. The Russians didn’t hack into the IRS’s network through some “back door” or social engineering scheme. They actually entered through the front door, using the personal data they had obtained. Just how the breach came about is not yet known. … (2 comments)
irs scams: How to identify Tax Scams
- 04/13/15 11:28 PM
The IRS isn’t your biggest enemy during tax season. It’s the criminals who pretend to be IRS reps and then con people out of their money. They contact potential victims chiefly through phone calls and text messages. Typically, the message is threatening in tone and/or content, informing the target they’ll be arrested if they don’t immediately send the IRS owed money. The threat may also be deportation or a driver’s license suspension (that last one is really silly, but people actually do fall for these cons). The money must be wire transferred or sent via a pre-paid card—and this is one of the … (2 comments)
Tax time comes around every year, and though you technically have until April 15th each year, if you can, file earlier. There is a good reason for this; you can avoid putting yourself in a position to get your identity stolen.
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