{"id":28435,"date":"2021-02-09T13:13:21","date_gmt":"2021-02-09T13:13:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vnsalvation.net\/?p=28435"},"modified":"2022-11-26T03:49:01","modified_gmt":"2022-11-26T03:49:01","slug":"12-irs-tax-refund-scams-common-frauds-to-avoid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hahosa.com\/vnsalvation\/12-irs-tax-refund-scams-common-frauds-to-avoid\/","title":{"rendered":"12 IRS Tax Refund Scams \u2013 Common Frauds to Avoid"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Tax scams happen year-round, but they tend to crop up most often during tax season. It\u2019s easy to see why. During the 2019 fiscal year, the\u00a0IRS<\/a>\u00a0collected more than $3.5 trillion in taxes and issued more than $452 billion in\u00a0tax refunds<\/a>. Whenever those kinds of dollars are involved, there are bound to be fraudsters trying to take advantage of people.<\/p>\n

To avoid becoming a victim, it helps to be aware of some of the more common types of tax scams.<\/p>\n

Pro tip<\/strong>: If you\u2019re filing your tax return through a preparer like\u00a0H&R Block<\/strong><\/a>, they\u2019ll guide you through the entire process. Along the way, if you think you\u2019ve become the target of a scam, an H&R Block tax advisor will be able to walk you through the steps you need to take.<\/p>\n

Top Tax Scams to Watch Out For<\/h2>\n

Each year, the IRS publishes its annual list of tax scams called the\u00a0Dirty Dozen<\/a>. These grifts are wide-ranging and involve more than tax preparer fraud. In fact, many are tax-related versions of common schemes you\u2019ve seen before.<\/p>\n

1. Phishing<\/h3>\n

Tax season is a ripe time for scammers to send fake emails and set up websites designed to look like the IRS or a reputable tax preparation company like H&R Block. These phishing emails and websites are designed to steal personal data.<\/p>\n

Phishing attacks can take several forms. You might get an email telling you your account or tax return is locked, asking you to update your tax filing information, claiming a tax payment was deducted from your bank account, or telling you the IRS owes you money.<\/p>\n

These phishing attempts are a ploy to get you to provide your personal information or click on a link or open an attachment that will download malware onto your computer, allowing the scammer to steal your identity.<\/p>\n

Never respond to unsolicited emails requesting personal information. If you receive an unexpected email claiming to be from the IRS or your tax preparation company, don\u2019t click on the link or open an attachment. Instead, open a different browser and navigate to IRS.gov or your tax preparer\u2019s website address and log into your account there.<\/p>\n

2. Fake Charities<\/h3>\n

In times of need, charitably minded people rise to the occasion and offer financial help. But before you pull out your wallet or checkbook, ensure you\u2019re giving to a\u00a0legitimate charity<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Groups pose as charitable organizations to ask for donations year-round, but especially after a natural disaster or other crisis. These groups may have names similar to legitimate charities, making it harder to spot the fakes.<\/p>\n

Before donating, do your research. Donate to recognizable and established charities or vet unfamiliar organizations using the IRS\u2019s\u00a0tax-exempt organization search<\/a>\u00a0tool,\u00a0CharityWatch<\/a>, or\u00a0GuideStar<\/a>.<\/p>\n

3. Threatening Impersonator Phone Calls<\/h3>\n

Getting a phone call or letter from the IRS tends to scare people, and fraudsters are more than happy to take advantage of that fear.<\/p>\n

You might receive a call or voicemail from someone claiming to be an IRS agent. The caller threatens unpleasant or downright frightening consequences, such as license revocation, arrest, or deportation, unless you provide payment immediately. The call may even seem legitimate because the scammer spoofed the IRS\u2019s phone number, so it shows up as \u201cIRS\u201d on your caller ID.<\/p>\n

IRS employees never call people to demand immediate payment or threaten or verbally abuse you. If you\u2019re worried you have a tax problem, call the IRS at 800-829-1040 or get help from a tax professional at a company like\u00a0H&R Block<\/strong><\/a>. They can help you respond to any legitimate IRS issues and ensure you stay in good standing with the IRS.<\/p>\n

4. Social Media Scams<\/h3>\n

People share a lot of information about themselves on social media. By looking at your social media profiles, a scammer can gather information like your full name, date of birth, hometown, and names of close connections.<\/p>\n

The criminal then impersonates a friend or family member via email, text, or direct message to gather financial information, ask for financial help, sell products that don\u2019t exist, or request a donation to a fake charity.<\/p>\n

To protect yourself from social media scams, the\u00a0Federal Trade Commission<\/a>\u00a0(FTC) recommends:<\/p>\n