It’s tax time with a warning to our readers about tax scams and fraudulent tax returns! Cyber crime happens to many Americans of all ages, but tax scammers are taking Americans for billions of dollars each year. Tax scammers are sending “phishing” emails that appear to be from the IRS and claim that the recipient either owes money or is due a refund. Same goes for fake IRS phone calls and identity theft to obtain your SSN and birth date info to file a fraudulent electronic tax return filed in your name without your knowledge.
Phishing ranks high on the agency’s Dirty Dozen list of tax scams. If you get an unsolicited email that seems to be from the IRS or a related agency, don’t reply or don’t open any attachments and don’t click on any links! Doing so can enable scammers to collect your personal information or infect your computer with malicious code. Instead, report the phishing email by sending it to phishing@ irs.gov. The IRS does NOT contact taxpayers electronically – whether by text, email or social media – to request personal or financial information, the agency said.
Regarding the ID theft and fraudulent tax returns, the IRS recommends you file as soon as possible with a well known professional tax preparer agency or CPA. The pros can recommend steps to prevent fraudulent returns. Also, be aware of fake charities.
If you become a victim:
1) file a report with local police
2) file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at www.identitytheft.gov or the FTC Identity Theft Hotline at 1-877-438-4338
3) contact one of the three major credit bureaus to place a ‘fraud alert’ on your credit records: Equifax, www.Equifax.com, 1-800-525-6285; Experian, www.Experian.com, 1-888-397-3742; TransUnion, www.TransUnion.com, 1-800-680-7289
4) close any accounts opened without your permission.
~ Bob Larson is a technologist and Marketing Director for 50 Plus.