Many of us already dread tax season, but the Internal Revenue Service issued a warning on Thursday about a few scams that might make things much more difficult. Scammers prey on unsuspecting victims year-round, but around tax season, IRS impersonators step up their efforts to steal your hard-earned money. It’s not only the traditional text, email, and phone scams that consumers should be on the lookout for this year, according to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This is a perfect time for identity thieves to target consumers with emails and messages that appear like they are from the Internal Revenue Service, informing them of their tax returns and refunds. To avoid identity theft and protect the sensitive personal information that might be exploited to file tax returns and steal refunds, consumers should be aware of these typical scams.”
Scams claiming unemployment benefits
According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), organizational crime gangs are exploiting stolen identities to fraudulently claim unemployment benefits, according to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Criminals who steal your identity and apply for help in your name will get a state-issued Form 1099-G due to the taxable income. It’s best to contact the issuing agency and seek a revised form if you receive it and don’t know why. Another sign that you’ve been the victim of identity fraud is if you receive a notification from your employer about your benefits or an unexpected payment from a state agency. If you suspect that your identity has been stolen, the U.S. Department of Labor contains information on reporting theft and who to contact.
Scams by text message, phone call, and email.
In recent years, did you receive a fraudulent SMS message? You’re not the only one. According to the Internal Revenue Service, there was a significant increase in 2021 in text-based phishing attempts referencing COVID-19 or “stimulus payments,” the Internal Revenue Service. On the other hand, the IRS does not utilize text messaging to get in touch with people for individual tax matters. The IRS does not contact people over social media, so it was probably a fraud if you received a message like this.
Additionally, the Internal Revenue Service warns taxpayers that they never ask for personal or financial information by email or leave pre-recorded, urgent, or threatening phone recordings. Caller ID numbers can be falsified, and some thieves may even use an IRS office phone number. According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), suspicious texts and emails should be reported to [email protected], and any suspicious links should not be clicked or opened, according to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). On IRS.gov, you may learn more about phishing and online scams.
What to do if you’ve had your identity stolen.
Unless you submit a tax return and discover that your Social Security number has already been used to file for a bogus refund, you may not realize your identity has been stolen in a tax scam.
Tips from the IRS are available if this happens to you.
Individuals should promptly contact the number provided in any IRS notification. If an e-file tax return is rejected due to a duplicate filing under a taxpayer’s SSN or the IRS instructs them to do so, they should submit IRS Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit PDF. Individuals can utilize an IRS.gov fillable form, print it, and attach it to their paper tax return before mailing it as directed. They can also use the IRS.gov fillable form. Tax-related identity theft victims should continue paying their taxes and submitting their tax returns, even if they have to do so on paper. They should. Call 800-908-4490 if you’ve already contacted the IRS regarding tax-related identity theft and haven’t received a response.
Also, Read Greg Mcmichael Won’t Plead to Hate Crime in Arbery Death
Contents
