Tax scams, identity theft, and fraud schemes to watch out for — how they work, how to spot them, and how to protect yourself.
Don’t be fooled: it’s not just Social Security Administration (SSA) scams making the rounds. Tax scam emails are flying fast and furious as well. I’ve gotten a few, including the following: The relevant text reads: Attention, Our records indicate that you are a Non-Resident Alien and sometime in the past submitted a form W-8BEN for your Tax…
Yesterday, I received a slightly garbled voice mail advising me that I had a serious delinquency that needed to be resolved. I was told to call a 1-800 number to resolve the matter. I didn’t even have to check my Caller ID to know that it was a scam involving Social Security. This wasn’t my…
Two Florida men will spend time in federal prison for their roles in a stolen identity and tax refund fraud scheme. The men took thousands of names, addresses, and other personally identifiable information and used the data to file fraudulent tax returns between 2012 and 2014. The men were discovered as part of a collaborative…
Despite a steep drop in tax-related identity theft in recent years, the scam remains serious enough to earn a spot on the agency’s 2019 “Dirty Dozen” list of tax scams. That’s why the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has dedicated a section of its website to address identity theft. Identity Theft Central is intended to improve online access to information on…
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Chuck Rettig has a message to taxpayers about personal data security. Rettig reminds taxpayers that while the IRS is working hard to get ready for tax season, “You know who else is working hard? Identity thieves.” He adds, Let’s not make it easy for them. Rettig offered a few tips…
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is warning taxpayers about a Social Security number (SSN) scam currently making the rounds. As part of the scam, thieves may call—often as a “robocall”—and try to get you to call back by claiming that your SSN is at risk. The scheme is similar to one that the IRS previously deemed “the…
Genetic testing kits are all the rage these days—and recent tax news may make it even more affordable. Taxpayers may now get a tax break for some testing, piquing interest for some taxpayers. Unfortunately, the increased popularity also makes genetic testing kits ripe for scammers. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office…
Tax season may be at an end for most taxpayers, but scammers aren’t letting up. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently warned taxpayers and tax professionals about a new IRS impersonation scam email. The email subject line may vary, but according to the IRS, recent examples use phrases like “Automatic Income Tax Reminder” or “Electronic Tax Return…
Correspondence season is in full swing. That means that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is sending out bills and notices to taxpayers, including letters focused on cryptocurrency reporting. It may be hard for taxpayers to tell the real thing from the fakes – and scammers are taking advantage of the confusion. Here’s what you need to know. Many…
If you’re looking to create or access your online payment plans with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), you should be aware of some key changes. The IRS recently updated its identity verification process to protect tax information better. An installment agreement is an option for taxpayers who can’t pay a tax bill in full. Typically,…
