It’s Tax Season- Be Careful!

Well, we all know that it’s tax season, but what we sometimes forget is that it is also the season for scammers trying to steal our identity. 

·  Personally, I’ve already received probably twenty emails purportedly from the IRS, requesting my information so that I can receive my refund, or some other form of money from the IRS.  These phising schemes always appear to be a legitimate IRS email, but of course are from some other source trying to get my Social Security number and other information.  To date, taxpayers have forwarded more than 33,000 of these scam e-mails, reflecting more than 1,500 different schemes, to the IRS.  Always remember, the IRS would NEVER use email to contact taxpayers about their tax issues and definitely never to ask for information from a tax payer.

·  Another phising scheme involves the new rebates from the economic stimulus plan.  To get your rebate under the plan, if you are eligible, you will just need to file your 2007 tax return.  However, scammers are posing as the IRS, requesting taxpayers’ information  in order for the taxpayer to receive their economic stimulus rebate. Once again, the IRS would NEVER use email to contact taxpayers about their tax issues.

HELPFUL TIP:  If you are unsure if your email is truly from the stated source, NEVER click the link.  Always open a new web page and put in the address yourself (in this instance, www.irs.gov).  You can then check on whether or not it is a valid email.  Another way to check is to put your cursor on the link (without clicking!) and the actual address where you will go (not what the link says) will show up either right there under your cursor or down at the bottom of your screen.   I always check this way before clicking any link.