Scammers have been contacting taxpayers while posing as Internal Revenue Service employees. The goal is to get valuable personal information, including your social security number in order to commit fraud and identity theft.
According to an IRS press release on January 31, scammers are contacting taxpayers usually by telephone in regards to rebates that have been proposed by Congress. They are getting information about the taxpayers’ personal and financial information.
Some victims were told that they were required to provide bank account information in order to receive the rebates through direct deposit. Others provided their social security number and date of birth.
Email messages also seek to obtain much of the same information. In addition, these messages may contain malware that can infect your computer.
Your best bet is to NEVER provide your personal information to anyone who contacts you by any means, including telephone, email or in-person. You must initiate the contact with a recognizable and reputable business.
Once a criminal has your private information, they can open new credit accounts in your name and leave you with a hefty bill. Recovering from identity theft can take months and involve exhaustive attempts to resolve the situation. A criminal with your bank account information can drain your account before you know it.
The IRS and reputable businesses will not request you to provide your personal and private information through unsolicited requests. If you have any doubts, contact your local Better Business Bureau or state’s Attorney General office to investigate if the request is valid.
Tags: rebate scam