That “MyChart Medicare Kit” Is a Scam
Scammers are impersonating MyChart with fake Medicare kits, medical test results, and other phishing schemes. Here’s how to spot the scams and stay safe.
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Looking for a Job? Watch Out for Scammers
September is one of the busiest months for job hunting—it’s also a peak season for recruitment scams, according to cybersecurity experts at NordVPN. As workers who quit their jobs over the summer reenter the job market and students search for work as the new academic year begins, scammers have a larger pool of potential victims….
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IRS Confirms Stop on Selfie Technology, So What Happens Now?
At the start of tax season, I reported that the IRS was using new technology focused on photo identification for verification. Specifically, taxpayers who wanted to access online services were advised to create a new ID.me account. IRS referred to ID.me, a self-described “secure digital identity network,” as a “trusted technology provider in helping to…
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What If The Call Is Coming From Inside The House?
At the climax of the 1979 film, “When A Stranger Calls,” the family babysitter, played by Carol Kane, is advised by the police that the terrorizing calls she’s receiving are coming from inside the house. While thinking about that scene, I couldn’t help but wonder about the IRS and its recent problems. What if the…
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The Increasing Importance Of Data Security
As society continues to do more online, data security is more important than ever before. That goes for your taxes and the IRS as well. In their annual report, the IRS identified $2.3 billion in tax fraud schemes in 2020. With the 2021 tax season continuing, it’s something businesses and individuals need to pay attention…
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Department Of State Sounds Warning On Business Forms
Normally, I don’t post about state-specific issues, but I am in this instance, and here’s why: when you read what this company is doing, it may well ring a bell even if you don’t live in Pennsylvania. That’s because these kinds of schemes know no geographic boundaries: you’ll find them all over the country. In…
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IRS Will Allow Taxpayers To Opt-In To IP PIN Program
Beginning in January 2021, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will be expanding the voluntary Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) program. What Is An IP PIN? An IP PIN is a six-digit number assigned to eligible taxpayers to help prevent tax refund fraud on federal income tax returns. An IP PIN helps the IRS to verify…
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7 Reasons Not To Engage With Scammers, No Matter What Your Friends On Facebook Tell You
Earlier this week, I received complaints that our law firm was dialing random numbers. We followed up with our phone company and were advised that scammers were most likely masking or spoofing our number. The phone company filed a complaint with the authorities and advised us to report any further activity. Of course, we aren’t…
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IRS Warns Taxpayers On COVID-19 Scams
According to Johns Hopkins, the United States has confirmed nearly two million cases of COVID-19. With many businesses closed and taxpayers still waiting on stimulus checks, scammers are capitalizing on the shaky economic climate to cheat and steal. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is reminding taxpayers to be on guard against tax fraud and other related financial scams…
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Treasury Warns Taxpayers On Stimulus Check Related Scams
J. Russell George, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), is urging all taxpayers to stay alert to ensure that they do not lose their Economic Impact Payments (EIPs), also called stimulus checks, to thieves and scammers. TIGTA is responsible for conducting statutory oversight of issues relating to federal tax administration. As such, it regularly…
