Many of you filed your taxes weeks ago. Some like to wait until the last minute.
But if you’re an early bird or a procrastinator or somewhere in-between, you face the same threat – con artists who resort to all sorts of scams to trick you into paying them or sharing personal information.
The Better Business Bureau sent out a warning to consumers about identity theft and tax-related scams last week. They most often start with a phone call and take two basic forms. In the first version, the IRS “agent” says you owe back taxes and pressures you into paying by prepaid debit card or wire transfer. If you don’t comply, the scammer threatens you with arrest and fines. In the other version, scammers claim they are issuing tax refunds and ask you for personal information so they can send your refund. This information can later be used for identity theft. Scammers also use this approach to target college students by claiming a “federal student tax” has not been paid, according to the bureau.
These imposters often go to great lengths to appear real, the bureau warns. The scammer may give a fake badge number and name. Your Caller ID may look like the call is coming from Washington, D.C.. Con artists sometimes follow up scam calls with an email, which uses the IRS logo, colors, and official-sounding language. In many instances, these scams start with a serious and official sounding “robocall” recording.
You may be pressured to act quickly. Scammers typically try to…
