Cyber Tax Scams, Do not fall victim to them.
Hello, during the Tax Season you can use the information below to help you avoid being a victim of a Tax Scam.
What is the number one tax scam? According to the IRS it is phishing.
Bogus
E-mail (phishing) and Bogus Web Sites (pharming):
The IRS warns of an e-mail-based scheme that will send
recipients of the email to a phony Web site that look likes the
IRS.gov web page in an attempt to trick recipients of the email into
revealing their Social Security number and credit card account and
PIN numbers.
The IRS has issued several recent consumer warnings on the fraudulent use of the IRS name or logo by scamsters trying to gain access to consumer’s financial information in order to steal their identity and assets. Scamsters will use the regular mail, telephone, fax or e-mail to set up their victims.
Other scams will involve threats and intimidation by phone, texts or emails by saying that you are going to be arrested if you do not send money or give personal information, such as your credit card information and they need the information now. Remember, the IRS is not going to be calling you, and ask you for personal information, they already have it.
More Refund due to You! You get a phone call from an "IRS" representative notifying you that you are due more refund and all you have to do is give them your personal and account information and they will send an additional direct deposit of some large dollar amount, like $1777.00 to your account. Of course you get nothing and they have all your personal information.
Stimulus Tax scam by Tax preparers. One scam is telling customers that if they are due a refund of more than $600 they have to repay the stimulus money they received. Of course, this is not true. You give them the refund and they pocket it.
Other Tax scams to be aware of:
Special
Retirement Plans
File as a Corporate ownership
Fuel Tax
Scams
Hiding money in Off-shore accounts
Claim Zero wages
Remember the golden rule....if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.....
If you think you're being scammed, you can report suspected tax fraud activity by sending completed Form 3949 A - http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f3949a.pdf
You can download the form or call 1-800-829-3676 to order by mail.
Please feel free to share this information with the internet community and remember you all be careful out there in cyber space.