Denisa Tova explains how in this morning’s Dollars & Sense Report.
Here are some common scams to watch out for:
- Fake tax refund notices are popular among scammers, followed by offers of free tax advice.
- Bogus W-2 emails, where identity thieves email you a warning that you need to update W-2 form. The email has a link to a phishing website where you are asked to enter you personal info, like your Social Security number, address, which can be used to hack into your financial accounts. Keep an eye on your earnings statements to make sure no one else is reporting income under your social security number.
- Bogus text messages pretending to come from the IRS.
When you receive email messages purportedly from the IRS, you should report the email to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov.
How you can protect yourself from scammers:
The IRS does not ask for personal identifying or financial information via unsolicited emails. Don’t open any emailed attachments or web links that pretend to come from the IRS.
- If an IRS agent calls you, you can get their name, badge or ID number and then call the local office to confirm that they are who they say they are.
- If an IRS agent calls you, you can get their name, badge or ID number and then call the local office to confirm that they are who they say they are.
- There are no special forms that you have to complete to get your refund.
- If you are not sure if you are getting a tax refund, call the IRS at (800) 829-1040.
- If you use a professional, pick someone who is reputable. Ask your friends for referrals and check with Better Business Bureau. Remember you are ultimately responsible for what is on your return.