South San Francisco, CA February 12, 2020 SSFPD Det Matt O’Connor
Tax season is upon us and tax identity thieves are ready for tax season whether you are or not. Tax identity thieves will most likely take on the persona of IRS imposters.
What is tax identity theft? It happens when someone uses your Social Security number (SSN) to file a phony tax return and collect your refund. You may not find out it has happened until you try to file your real tax return and the IRS rejects it as a duplicate filing. IRS imposters are scammers who pretend they’re calling from the IRS. They claim you owe taxes and demand that you pay right now, usually with a gift card or prepaid debit card. They threaten you’ll be arrested or face other bad consequences if you don’t pay. But it’s all a lie. If you send the money, it’s gone.
Protect yourself!
Here are some things to consider:
-Protect your SSN throughout the year. Don’t give it out unless there’s a good reason and you’re sure who you’re giving it to.
– File your tax return as early in the tax season as you can.
– Use a secure internet connection if you file electronically, or mail your tax return directly from the post office.
– Research a tax preparer thoroughly before you hand over personal information.
– Check your credit report at least once a year for free at annualcreditreport.com.
– Make sure no one has opened a new account in your name. Check out this easy-to-understand infographic from the FTC regarding this type of scam.
