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Tax Scams

The Scam You Should be Aware of During This Holiday Season

Remember: Gift Cards are NOT to Be Used to Make Tax Payments

Gift cards are a convenient option people use every holiday season. It makes sense: these cards allow you to give a gift to someone you care about without running the risk of giving them something they don’t like. However, gift cards are NOT to be used to make tax payments. Read on to learn how to identify, avoid, and report this type of scam.

How the Scam Works

Scammers often impersonate the IRS or other reputable institution and try to get people to pay fake tax bills with prepaid gift cards. This may sound absurd on its face (and it is), but a lot of people fall for this scheme every year, so it’s better to be prepared.

Criminals prefer gift cards because they are difficult to trace or recover when the transaction has been completed. So once you have provided them with the information they need, it’s very difficult to get your money back.

Pay Attention to These Red Flags

These are some red flags that can help you identify scammers using this scheme:

  • The contact you unsolicited either by phone, email, text, or social media.
  • Scammers may tell you that you are somehow linked to illegal activity (for example, that your identity has been stolen and used for fraudulent purposes).
  • They use threats and/or harassment to get you to pay a fake tax penalty.
  • They instruct you to buy gift cards from different stores.
  • Once you buy the gift cards, they ask you to provide the gift card number and PIN.

How to Report a Gift Card Scam Attempt

If you believe you have been targeted by scammers, you can use the IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting website or call 800-366-4484.

In the case of phone scams, you can report them to the Federal Trade Commission, making sure to add “IRS phone scam” in the notes.

If you receive threatening or harassing phone calls, you can report them directly to the IRS to phishing@IRS.gov, including the phrase “IRS phone scam” in the subject line.

More Tips About Taxes

Learning more about the options available to you as a taxpayer is more important than ever. Check out these previous posts for more useful tax tips:

Contact the Experts at JT Tax Services

Looking for expert, dependable advice on taxes? At JT Tax Services we have the experience, the knowledge, and the drive to assist you. We give you the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you are limiting your liability while staying compliant with all regulations.

We are located in Oxnard, California. Contact us today by email, telephone, or through our social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to learn more about our services.

Phishing and Taxes: Everything You Need to Know

Phishing and Taxes: Everything You Need to Know

Fraudsters evolve with the times, so it’s no surprise that they are exploiting the internet to take advantage of unsuspecting victims. Phishing is one of the favorite tactics of cybercriminals, who often (and illegally) mention taxes or pose as tax institutions as part of the ruse.

Keep reading to learn more about phishing and to discover ways to protect yourself against this threat.

What Is Phishing?

Phishing is a type of scam where cybercriminals pose as trustworthy institutions (such as banks or the IRS itself) and send malicious emails or create fake websites with the intent of luring you into providing your personal information.

How to Protect Yourself Against Phishing

Phishing can be particularly insidious, but these simple steps go a long way toward avoiding falling prey to cybercriminals.

  • Be wary of unsolicited emails, social media messages, or text messages.
  • Don’t reply to suspect messages.
  • Bad grammar and poor spelling are some tell-tale signs of fraud.
  • Scare tactics and threats are red flags that should put you on alert.
  • If you receive a suspect email, don’t open any attachments and don’t click on any links.

Keep in mind that phishing may assume many forms. For example, you may encounter it as messages that pop up when you open a website. It may even occur as phone and VoIP calls, so make sure to keep your guard up at all times.

How to Report Phishing Attempts

We repeat this tip from the previous section because it’s extremely important: don’t reply to suspect emails.

If the email is tax-related, forward it to the IRS at (phishing@irs.gov) preferably with the full email headers.

If you experience a monetary loss due to an IRS-related phishing incident, you should report it to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGA) and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

In the case of text messages, you can forward the text to the IRS at 202-552-1226 and, if possible, forward the originating number in a separate message.

Get Advice From the Experts at JT Tax Services

At JT Tax Services we have the experience, the knowledge, and the drive to meet all your tax needs. We help you file your taxes with the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you are limiting your liability while staying compliant with federal and state tax regulations.

We are located in Oxnard, California. Contact us by email, telephone (805-984-8890), or through our social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to learn more about our services.

Don’t Fall for These Tax-Related Scams!

Don’t Fall for These Tax-Related Scams!

We are living months of uncertainty and stress, but that doesn’t deter fraudsters. On the contrary: they try to take advantage of unsuspecting victims using tax-related scams.

Don’t fall for these schemes. Read on to discover how you can protect yourself against these threats.

Phishing, One of the Most Common Tax-Related Scams

Be on the lookout for fake emails or websites that request personal information. Remember this simple rule: the IRS will never initiate contact by email about a tax bill, refund, or Economic Impact Payment. Another simple measure you can take to avoid fraudsters is to never click on links that supposedly come from IRS.

Fake Charities

This is an evergreen fraud scheme that has been adapted to different situations, and the ongoing pandemic is no exception. Don’t let criminals take advantage of your desire to help others. Any unsolicited contact by phone, email, text, social media, or in person should arouse your suspicions.

Phone Calls Impersonating the IRS

Threatening calls impersonating the IRS are another common tactic of criminals. The IRS will never call you threatening with jail or deportation if you don’t settle your tax bill. These supposed charges are fake, and these calls have no connection with the IRS.

Social Media Scams

Social media is one of the main vehicles of disinformation, and scammers take advantage of this fact to lure others into sharing their personal details. Don’t fall for their malicious attempts and keep in mind that criminals may try to send you malicious messages or emails impersonating people you know.

Senior citizens are using social media at an increasing rate and may be particularly vulnerable to fraudsters. If you are a senior citizen yourself, or if you know any senior citizens, on the lookout for suspect messages—they may be an attempt to steal personal information.

Learn More About Taxes

Learning more about taxes is well worth the effort: It can save you time, money, and frustration! Check out these previous posts to learn more about deductions, deadlines, tax credits, and everything in between:

Contact the Experts at JT Tax Services

At JT Tax Services we have the experience, the knowledge and the drive to assist you. With our advice, you can file your taxes with the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you are limiting your liability while staying compliant with federal and state tax regulations.

We are located in Oxnard, California. Contact us by email, telephone or through our social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to learn more about our services.

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