IRS impersonation scam

LifeLock Empowers Taxpayers with Knowledge to Help Fight Fraud

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 8, 2023
ID, TransUnion, LifeLock, Communication, Tax, Intelligence Identities Protection Act, Identity, File, IP, Federal Trade Commission, TAS, Office of the Taxpayer Advocate, Crime, Equifax, Eye, Identity theft, IRS impersonation scam, IRS, PII, Social Security, PTIN, Online shopping, Cryptocurrency, Experian

With the more than 90 percent of U.S. taxpayers filing online, it's essential to know how to file taxes safely .

Key Points: 
  • With the more than 90 percent of U.S. taxpayers filing online, it's essential to know how to file taxes safely .
  • In 2022 alone, the IRS identified more than $5.7 billion in tax fraud .
  • Luckily, there are proactive steps consumers can take to help protect their identities and restorative steps should they fall victim to identity theft.
  • For additional tax season safeguards, identity theft protection services from LifeLock adds professional support to help consumers navigate complicated IRS and credit bureau actions designed to restore taxpayers' lives and identities.

McAfee: Hackers Targeting Digitally Connected Consumers This Tax Season

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 3, 2021
Data management, Security, Technology, Software, Networks, Internet, Confidence tricks, Social engineering, Crime, Fraud, Spamming, Deception, Cybercrime, Phishing, IRS impersonation scam, Internet fraud prevention

Consumers have faced a lot of change over the past year with the shift to a digital-first lifestyle, and tax season is no exception.

Key Points: 
  • Consumers have faced a lot of change over the past year with the shift to a digital-first lifestyle, and tax season is no exception.
  • Hackers target tax payers every year, but the increase in online filings due to COVID-19 in 2020 presented an even greater opportunity, as scams related to coronavirus tax relief such as Economic Impact Payments, have now earned a spot on the IRS Dirty Dozen tax scam list.
  • Consumers can do their part this tax season to protect their personal information and keep their finances secure:
    Beware of phishing attempts.
  • Phishing is a common tactic hackers leverage during tax season, so double-check legitimacy of any unfamiliar or remotely suspicious emails.

New FTC Data Show Massive Increase in Romance Scams, $304M in Losses

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 10, 2021
Fraud, Social engineering, Confidence tricks, Matchmaking, Romance scam, Money, Deception, Crime, Gift card, Wire transfer, SSA impersonation scam, IRS impersonation scam

A newly released data spotlight shows that the amount consumers reported losing to romance scammers is up about 50 percent since 2019, and has increased more than fourfold since 2016.

Key Points: 
  • A newly released data spotlight shows that the amount consumers reported losing to romance scammers is up about 50 percent since 2019, and has increased more than fourfold since 2016.
  • According to the spotlight, consumers most often report sending money to romance scammers by wire transfer or in the form of gift cards.
  • Reports of gift cards used to pay romance scammers were up by nearly 70 percent over 2019.
  • The FTC provides tips for consumers on how to spot romance scams and protect themselves at ftc.gov/romancescams

New FTC Data Show Massive Increase in Romance Scams, $304M in Losses

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 10, 2021
Fraud, Social engineering, Confidence tricks, Matchmaking, Romance scam, Money, Deception, Crime, Gift card, Wire transfer, SSA impersonation scam, IRS impersonation scam

A newly released data spotlight shows that the amount consumers reported losing to romance scammers is up about 50 percent since 2019, and has increased more than fourfold since 2016.

Key Points: 
  • A newly released data spotlight shows that the amount consumers reported losing to romance scammers is up about 50 percent since 2019, and has increased more than fourfold since 2016.
  • According to the spotlight, consumers most often report sending money to romance scammers by wire transfer or in the form of gift cards.
  • Reports of gift cards used to pay romance scammers were up by nearly 70 percent over 2019.
  • The FTC provides tips for consumers on how to spot romance scams and protect themselves at ftc.gov/romancescams

MyChargeBack Warns: Beware of Tax Scams in Advance of Filing Deadlines

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
Taxation in the United States, Tax avoidance, Tax noncompliance, Internet fraud, Tax Day, Tax return, Fraud, Tax, Deception, IRS impersonation scam

NEW YORK, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --MyChargeBack, the world leader in fund recovery for victims of online scams, is warning the public about the proliferation of tax scams in advance of the upcoming deadlines in filing tax returns.

Key Points: 
  • NEW YORK, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --MyChargeBack, the world leader in fund recovery for victims of online scams, is warning the public about the proliferation of tax scams in advance of the upcoming deadlines in filing tax returns.
  • "Tax season is here and tax scammers are here too," states Michael Cohen, MyChargeBack's Vice President of Operations.
  • "There are many types of tax scams, however, so taxpayers have to keep their guard up."
  • According to FBI statistics , these sorts of extortion scams rose year-by-year by a whopping 242% through 2019.

Harrison Tax Services Shares Tips for Identifying Phone Scams as Tax Season Approaches

Retrieved on: 
Monday, November 18, 2019
Taxation in the United States, Economy, Tax, Financial services in the United States, Accounting software, QuickBooks, Internal Revenue Service, Tax preparation in the United States, IRS impersonation scam

But tax experts with Harrison Tax Services say that these scammers are easy to detect -- and report.

Key Points: 
  • But tax experts with Harrison Tax Services say that these scammers are easy to detect -- and report.
  • These calls are especially prevalent during tax season, when scammers claim to be with the IRS and threaten swift action if their demands are not met.
  • Harrison Tax Service, Inc. provides tax services, tax preparation and planning and IRS audit representation, as well as accounting services, including small business accounting, payroll, part-time CFO services, QuickBooks setup and training, and personal accounting.
  • The goal of Harrison Tax Service is to help a business pay as little as possible with superior service.

Social Security Scam Replaces the IRS Scam as the Most Prevalent During This Year's Tax Season

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
Taxation in the United States, Tax, Security engineering, Government, Fraud, Confidence tricks, Computer network security, Computer security, Cryptography, Social Security, Internal Revenue Service, IRS impersonation scam

In a surprising turn of events, Hiya has discovered that the IRS scam has actually declined in recent months, with the Social Security scam taking its place as the most prevalent during this year's tax season, surging more than 880% since last year.

Key Points: 
  • In a surprising turn of events, Hiya has discovered that the IRS scam has actually declined in recent months, with the Social Security scam taking its place as the most prevalent during this year's tax season, surging more than 880% since last year.
  • The Social Security Scam targets unsuspecting citizens across the U.S., sometimes spoofing numbers to look like the Social Security Administration.
  • However, just as the IRS scam started to decrease, the Social Security scam started to pick up steam.
  • According to the FTC, the scammers behind the Social Security Scam say they want you to confirm your SSN to reactivate it.