The scam involving fake tax returns is happening again this year. The scam targets individuals like you, aimed at stealing your sensitive personal information, particularly your Social Security Number (SSN), for fraudulent purposes, which includes filing a fraudulent tax return and stealing your refund.
Here’s how the scam works: Scammers obtain your SSN through various means, such as phishing emails, fake phone calls, or even through data breaches. Once they have your SSN, they file a false tax return on your behalf, claiming refunds that rightfully belong to you.
To protect yourself and your hard-earned money, we urge you to take the following precautions immediately:
1: Be Vigilant: Be wary of unsolicited emails, phone calls, or messages requesting your personal information, especially your SSN. Legitimate government agencies and financial institutions will never ask for such sensitive details via these channels.
2: Verify Sources: Before providing any personal information, verify the legitimacy of the requestor. If in doubt, contact the organization directly using official contact information from their website or other trusted sources.
3: Secure Your SSN: Treat your SSN as highly confidential information. Avoid carrying your Social Security card in your wallet or sharing it unnecessarily.
4: Monitor Your Finances: Regularly review your bank statements, credit reports, and tax records for any suspicious activity or unauthorized transactions.
5: File Early: File your tax returns as early as possible to minimize the window of opportunity for scammers to file fraudulent returns in your name.
If you suspect or know that you may have been a victim of tax-related identity theft, here’s how you can discover if someone has filed a fraudulent return using your SSN:
- IRS or State Notification: The IRS or your state may send you a notice or letter if they detect suspicious activity associated with your SSN or tax returns. Take any correspondence from the IRS or your state seriously and follow the instructions provided. If you did not file your return yet, call them immediately
- Tax Transcript Request: You can request a copy of your tax transcript from the IRS to review the information reported under your SSN. An unexpected tax transcript or discrepancies in the information provided may indicate fraudulent activity.
- Check Now: Check if You've Filed with the IRS, https://www.usa.gov/was-tax-return-received
- Tax Refund Status: Check the status of your tax refund using the IRS "Where's My Refund?" https://www.irs.gov/wheres-my-refund tool. If you notice that a refund has been issued for a return you did not file, it could be a sign of identity theft.
If you suspect that you’ve been a victim of tax-related identity theft or any other scam, don’t hesitate to report it to the appropriate authorities immediately.
For more information and resources on protecting yourself from tax-related scams, please visit the official websites of government agencies such as:
Internal Revenue Service (IRS): IRS Website https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-scamsconsumer-alerts
Federal Trade Commission (FTC): FTC Tax Identity Theft Information, https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-know-about-tax-identity-theft
