SCAM WARNINGS !
Jay White is a volunteer attorney who serves low income seniors in San Mateo County, California
TAX IDENTITY THEFT
It’s Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week. It is time to get up to date on protecting yourself from identity thieves. They are imposters who pretend they’re from the IRS, but they are thieves out to get your money.
Tax identity theft happens when someone uses your Social Security number (SSN) to get your tax refund, or possibly a job using your name. Scammers may offer to expedite your tax return—if you send them your Social Security number and a “commission” in advance.
You might not find out it’s happened until you receive a letter from the IRS saying that more than one tax return was filed with your SSN, or IRS records show you earned income from an employer you don’t know, or the IRS received a duplicate of your e-filed tax return.
One of the most common ways an identity thief can capture your SSN and personal information is through phishing. Phishing is a scam message intended to trick you into revealing your SSN and/or personal information. These phishing scams typically come in the form of a fraudulent email, or even a phone call, where the identity thieves will disguise themselves as an IRS official requesting your personal information. The IRS will never contact you via email, so make sure to immediately delete any messages that appear to be from the IRS. If you receive a suspicious phone call from the IRS, do not give out your personal information. It is in your best interest to confirm a purported IRS employee’s identity by calling the official IRS hotline at 1-800-829-1040.
Meanwhile, here are suggestions to help fight tax identity theft:
File your return as early in the tax season as you can.
Use a secure internet connection if you file electronically, or mail your tax return from the post office.
Visit Internet Tax-Related Identity Theft to learn more.
File your tax returns yourself, or through a trusted accountant or tax return agency.
File your tax returns on time, do not delay!
Regularly check your credit report for irregular activity.
Enable fraud alerts with your credit and banking institutions.
Your SSN card should be in a secure place. Not in your wallet, purse, or hand-bag.
Do not leave your wallet/purse vulnerable in unlocked cars, or desks at work.
Do not give out personal information or your SSN to suspicious callers or strangers.
Never click or links or open attachments in suspicious emails.
Use different passwords for banking and credit institutions than you do for social networks, online stores, etc.
In addition, use unique and secure passwords. Include numbers, possibly using upper and lower case letters, and special characters. Change them regularly!
Keep your computers and electronic devices updated with current patches and security updates.
If you file your return later in the tax season you may find out that an identity thief has already filed a return using your SSN. If you find out that you have become a victim of tax related identity theft, it is important to contact the IRS immediately. The phone number for the “IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit” is 1-800-908-4490.
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