LifeLock Blog

Well it’s tax season again and people are gearing up to prepare their tax returns in hope of getting just a little bit back from old Uncle Sam.  Every year however people are scammed into giving away important information that ultimately leads to an identity theft. Tax time can be a confusing and hectic time for some and leaves them open to scammers impersonating the IRS and other government agencies.

What the Scam looks like.

These tax related scams often times manifest themselves in the form of an email. The sender will often times impersonate the IRS or the treasury and include attention grabbing titles like “Tax Refund”  or “IRS Notice.” The email will then inform you that you need to provide information to them in order to receive your refund or to prevent from paying a penalty or fee. Also scammers use fake or phony websites to try and steal information from their victims. These websites might look identical to the IRS but are used by the criminals to trick users into entering data into them.

What you should know.

You should know that the IRS does not send unsolicited e-mails to tax pays. So if you do not contact them via email then it’s not really the IRS. Also many of these emails are sent by individuals who’s first language isn’t English. So look out for unusual grammar and sentence structure because these are dead giveaways. When presented with a IRS website make sure the URL starts with http://www.irs.gov/. If it does not it’s not the real IRS website and you should leave.

Every year new scams come out and scammers find new and interesting ways to take advantage of unsuspecting people. So keep your eyes open and your information safe this tax season.

Taxpayers should always be careful with their personal information. Not only because someone could steal your identity and open credit cards, but because they can also file a tax return in your name getting whatever refund you are entitled to. This happens more often than you think and is popular among illegal aliens as well as identity thieves. Illegal aliens us it to get work and to appear legal, while identity thieves just want your money. In fact billionaire Donald Bren had his tax refund check stolen from him worth 1.4 Million dollars just a month ago. So believe if it can happen to someone like Donald Bren it can happen to you.

Here are some simple things you can do to prevent a tax related identity theft.

- Know that the IRS doesn’t contact people through email. If you get an email claiming to be from the IRS you can forward it to phishing@irs.gov.

- Know that identity thieves obtain your information through several means including but not limited to stealing your wallet or purse off your person, car or home, spam email messages, going through your trash, and accessing information left from insecure websites.

- If you visit a site that is claiming to be an official IRS website and it doesn’t start with www.irs.gov, you should forward that link to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov.

- To learn how to identify a secure website you can visit the Federal Trade Commission at www.onguardonline.gov/tools/recognize-secure-site-using-ssl.aspx . Also know that even information sent to secure websites can be read and breached with the right tools. Always make sure your network is secure and that your computer is free of viruses.

- Never carry your Social Security card with you unless absolutely necessary, and make sure to store it in a safe place.

- If someone is using your Social Security number to obtain a job it will seem as if you are not reporting all your income.

- If you receive a notice that more than one tax return has been filed in your name you may have had your identity stolen. Don’t delay in contacting the IRS to begin the process of resolving the matter. You will need to prove your identity by submitting a copy of your valid government-issued identification – such as a Social Security card, driver’s license, or passport – along with a copy of a police report and/or a completed Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit. The IRS has a special department called the Identity Protection Specialized Unit which can be contacted toll-free at 800-908-4490. If you would like to learn more about the FTC guidance for reporting identity theft visit  www.ftc.gov/idtheft.