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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Taxpayers Can Learn From GoFundMe Scam
Recently, a New Jersey woman was sentenced for her involvement in an infamous GoFundMe scam. The saga is a good reminder to be careful before handing over your hard-earned cash—even for a great cause. Here are a few tips to consider. Post-column update: On August 5, 2022, Mark D’Amico was sentenced Friday to five years…
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Watch Out For Stimulus Check Scams And Related Hoaxes
Ugh. The ink is barely dry on the “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act” or the “CARES Act” – and scammers are already coming up with schemes to defraud taxpayers. Specifically, identity thieves are using confusion over the stimulus checks to convince potential victims to turn over personally-identifying information. The Better Business Bureau is already reporting that government imposters are calling…
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Social Security Warns On New Texting Scam
Scammers aren’t just relying on robocalls and voice mails to reach potential victims: they’re now texting. The Inspector General of Social Security, Gail S. Ennis, recently issued a warning about a new scam involving text messages that appear to come from Social Security. The texts warn about a Social Security number problem and ask the recipient to call a…
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ID Thieves Are Emailing Fake Tax Forms To Taxpayers
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…
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IRS To Taxpayers: Be On The Lookout For New SSN Scam
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…
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IRS Warns On New Phone Scam
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued a warning about a new twist on the old IRS impersonation phone scam. In this version of the scam, criminals try to convince taxpayers that they are calling from the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS). The TAS is an independent organization within the IRS. Its mission is to protect your…
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Key Players In GoFundMe Scam Take Plea In Scheme To Defraud Donors
It was the stuff of TV movies: A heartwarming tale of a good Samaritan who helped a young woman out of a jam. Eventually, allegations surfaced that the tale of a homeless veteran’s act of kindness was a scam. This week, two of the players in the scheme, Johnny Bobbitt and Kate McClure, pleaded guilty…
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How To Protect Yourself From Identity Theft, Scams, And Fraud
The more you know about how to protect yourself, the better chance you have to not be a victim. Here are 13 tips help you protect yourself from identity theft, scams, and fraud:
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I Received A Bogus IRS Email, Too: What To Do If It Happens To You
I did a double take this morning. I was scrolling through my inbox and ran across an email allegedly from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regarding tax transcripts. It wasn’t actually from IRS: It was a scam. However, it was close enough to get my attention. Here’s what the email looked like: In contrast, here’s…
