- Most Scams start with an email or text, In 2022, they were right to the tune of $330 million in losses to text scams, as reported to the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network, with a median reported loss of $1,000.
- Take the time to secure your written forms of communication such as your Text messages and Emails by closely checking the address or phone number of the sender.
- More than 90% of individual tax returns are now filed online, making tax season an ideal time to make sure you’re doing everything you can to safeguard your assets and identity.
- Only trust tax-filing portals with “https:” before the URL. This indicates that data transmitted between you and the site is encrypted.
- Verify payment instructions: When paying the IRS, take the time to confirm the payment instructions directly with the agency through a verified phone number on the official IRS website, or a trusted individual such as your Financial Advisor.
- Be cautious when receiving unsolicited calls, emails, or messages asking for payments. Scammers often use these methods to trick individuals into providing sensitive information.
- Be Aware of Unsolicited Messages: Like fake bank texts, texts from someone who says they’re “Amazon” or “USPS” look like automated fraud prevention messages. Often, they ask you to verify a big-ticket order you didn’t make. If you call the number in the text, you get a phony Amazon rep who offers to “fix” your account. People often report giving the rep remote access to their phone so they can get things fixed and get their refund. But then the rep says a couple of zeros were accidently added to the refund, so they need you to return that money to them – often by buying gift cards and giving the cards’ PIN numbers.
- Verify your filing websites are trustworthy: Make sure tax-filing portal websites with “https:” and shows the lock sign. This indicates that data transmitted between you and your clients is encrypted.
Leave a Reply