After tax season scams to look out for -
Earlier in August, the IRS found that the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) was informed nearly 4,000 cases of tax scam this year, adding more than $ 20 million in losses. Tax season may be over, but for fraudsters, it is always the season for defrauding taxpayers of their hard earned money. Although their objectives were generally elderly, newly arrived immigrants and those who do not speak English, according to the IRS, fraudsters have expanded their net victims in attempts to get more money. Here are some of the most common tax scams that you should be careful before, during and after the tax season.
IRS "Phone calls"
This scam has increased in the occurrence of the past few years, and even landed the No. 1 on Tax Scams IRS Dirty Dozen this year . Here's how it works: someone, typically posing as an "employee of the IRS," contact you regarding the money you should have They will ask the victim to send money to them. tax payments "uncollected" or late and threaten to sue or call the local police if the victim fails to make payment. These scammers are not afraid to remind either. In some cases, they will use successive calls to make the situation appears both realistic and urgent, making their victims feel guilty and afraid to really ignore them. Some scammers will even work in groups as an alternative to a con artist poses as an IRS employee threatening to send local police on the victim, and the next call will be another con artist posing as a sheriff. Other similar scams is to ask for tax receipts to verify existing information, such as social security number of the victim or the date of birth, or to request information to be sent to the victim "for reimbursement of tax."
Recently, this phone scam got both more sophisticated and abrasive. Some of these scammers have even gone to change their caller ID that the call seems to appear from a legitimate governmental organization. In addition, some scammers will also find details of their victims online so they have talking points. Others go as far as the construction of all government employee identities with badge numbers and other details to add to their credibility.
How can you protect yourself against telephone scams?
This scam is easy to spot as long as taxpayers remember that the IRS will never demand immediate payment angry phone nor call the agency on taxes due without first you sent a bill. In addition, the IRS will also never threaten to bring the local police or other law enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying, or require that you pay tax without giving you the opportunity to question and appeal the amount they say you owe. Finally, the IRS does not require you to use a specific method of payment for your taxes, like a debit card or prepaid bank transfer, or ask you to provide this information by phone. Instead, if you are targeted or fall victim to this phone scam, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and report to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. On the other hand, if you feel this survey may be legitimate, hang up the phone and call the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040 to inquire about the bill.
phishing emails
Scammers are also likely to use the phishing email. The emails will appear to come from legitimate sources, such as the IRS or tax system of federal electronic payment (EFTPS), but either contain malicious links or attachments. Other emails could include questions on taxes relating to investments or winning the lottery. In most cases, the purpose is to trick the victim to give up some personal information, such as their security number and address of registered office or compromise their computer, smartphone or tablet and use malware to spy or steal their personal information. While most attacks related to tax phishing usually occur during or just before the tax season, it can still happen to you at any time.
How can you protect yourself against phishing scams?
If you receive an email claiming to be from the IRS asking you to click on a link and contains a request for personal information associated with a significant investment, inheritance or lottery, does not respond to the message or click on links or attachments because it is almost certainly fraudulent. Instead, you must transfer the email comme-à-phishing@irs.gov~~V, as detailed by the IRS, so the office can investigate and put an end to the phishing scam. Once you have redirected the mail, delete the message and mark it as spam. To avoid scams like this, remember that the IRS will not send unsolicited e-mails, faxes or text messages requesting personal information. In addition, taxpayers should also know that the office initiates contact by mail, which means that any initial contact they receive from an IRS agent probably can. Another way to spot a phishing email is to use an Internet security software since they have phishing and protect the e-mail that warns you of potential spam.
Although it seems tax scams can occur during tax season, the reality is that fraudsters are working around the clock to find a way to steal money from unsuspecting victims. Follow our blog to learn identity theft protect yourself against scams and data breaches.
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