IRS SCAM

MARCH 27 
Money Monday –
Don’t let scammers ruin your tax season! Tax season is a time of year that many people dread, but unfortunately, it’s also a time when scammers and fraudsters try to take advantage of vulnerable taxpayers. Don’t be a vulnerable taxpayer!
Let me share some tips the IRS has provided on ways that you can avoid falling victim to these scams. These are some of the common scams and schemes the IRS wants you to be aware of during tax season. One such scam involves email and texting. Cybercriminals will send fake messages that are designed to trick taxpayers into sharing sensitive information. These scams can take the form of phishing, where a fake email appears to be from the IRS, or smishing, where a fake text message is sent. It’s important to remember that the IRS will never, NEVER initiate contact through email or text message.
Another scam to be on the lookout for relates to charitable contributions. In this scam, the cybercriminals may try to use fake charities designed to trick taxpayers into donating money, especially after a major disaster. These scams can be difficult to detect, but it is very important to research any charity before you send a donation. The IRS provides a tool on their website to help taxpayers verify the legitimacy of any charity. One of the popular scams this year involves the Employee Retention Credit or ERC. The IRS is warning taxpayers to be cautious of aggressive promoters who may offer deals that seem “too good to be true.” If you are considering filing a claim for this credit, make sure to do your research and ensure that any claims made are authentic. Since the IRS plans to increase scrutiny in this area, it is extremely important to ensure that any claim you make is legitimate.