Tax time is just upon us all again… didn’t we just do this? *sigh* what a year it has been. I digress.
This time of year is absolutely rife with fraud and scams. Criminals know you are sending and receiving sensitive documents that contain all sorts of personal and financial information. That information is a gold mine to cyber criminals. You may also be expecting a tax refund check from the IRS. They want all of these things from you and their methods of obtaining them are getting better and better.
You need to be aware all year long but extra diligent this time of year.
- Never open suspicious emails, just delete them
- Never click on weird links
- Stick to shopping on sites you already know and trust
- Don’t fall for time-sensitive emotional traps (respond in the next 5 minutes or we will arrest you! kinds of things)
For some specific advice I have a few tips and a full article I would like to share with you from Morgan Stanley>
Quick Tax-Related Fraud Prevention Tips:
- Request an Identity Protection PIN on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website
- Only provide personal information over secure, encrypted websites (look for the https) and enable Multi-Factor Authentication whenever it’s offered, especially when filing online
- File early to block cybercriminals from using your Social Security Number (SSN) to file a fraudulent return
Remember, the IRS will never initiate contact by email, text or social media to request personal or financial information or call you with threats of lawsuits or arrests.
Be Aware of These 3 Major Red Flags:
- You can’t electronically file your tax return because of a duplicate SSN
- You receive a letter from the IRS about a tax return you didn’t file
- You are mailed a tax form that you didn’t request
If you suspect you’re a victim of tax-related identity theft, or know your SSN has been compromised, the IRS urges you to call them at 1-800-908-4490. For the full article please visit> https://www.morganstanley.com/articles/tax-season-cybersecurity-tips