Tax season is here, which means that tax scammer season is also here.
As people try to schedule time with their accountant and get their W-2s and other assorted financial paperwork together in time for Tax Day (which is April 18 this year, by the way), con artists are trying their best to steal people’s identities.
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The Internal Revenue Service has issued a warning about the phishing and smishing scams to look out for.
IRS, with state tax agencies and the nation's tax industry have formed the Security Summit to protect taxpayers and businesses from the hoaxes designed to fleece them. Every year they publish the Dirty Dozen, an annual IRS list of 12 scams and schemes to look out for. Some are new, and some are the old standbys we’ve learned to be wary of over the years. (Though it’s never a bad idea to get a safety refresher.)
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Don’t Get Phished
Phishing has become more and more commonplace over the years, and it’s a big reason your spam folder is always filled to the brim. Phishing emails will often claim to come from the IRS or another legitimate organization, including state tax organizations or a financial firm. The email will try to get you to turn over your identifying information with promises or phony tax refund or scaring you with false legal/criminal charges for tax fraud.
Remember, the IRS initiates most contacts through regular mail and does not contact taxpayers by email, text or social media regarding a bill or tax refund.
Also, Don’t Get Smished
Smishing is a text or smartphone SMS message that uses the same technique as phishing. It’s been increasing in popularity in a number of years, which is why you might constantly be getting text messages that favorite streaming account has been canceled. But Smishing texts also come from fake accounts pretending to be the IRS.
Look for key phrases such as "Your account has now been put on hold," or "Unusual Activity Report" with a bogus "Solutions" link to restore the recipient's account. Clicking on these links can end up with you inadvertently downloading malware or ransomware to your phone, which can lead to you being blackmailed or your information being downloaded.
Remember, the IRS will never text you about tax refunds.
Be Careful About That Email From A Friend
Once someone’s phone has been compromised or their information stolen, scammers will use their identity and contacts to find their next victims. If you receive an email from a friend that seems off, or you’re curious why your mom wants to give you a tax refund, call them and make sure they haven’t been hacked.
Report Any Scam You See
If you’ve received a phishy message, send the email or a copy of the text/SMS as an attachment to phishing@irs.gov. The report should include the caller ID (email or phone number), date, time and time zone, and the number that received the message.
Taxpayers can also report scams to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration or the Internet Crime Complaint Center. The Report Phishing and Online Scams page at IRS.gov provides complete details. The Federal Communications Commission's Smartphone Security Checker is a useful tool against mobile security threats.
