ROCKFORD — Better Business Bureau is alerting taxpayers to the tricks con artists will use over the next several weeks to take your money, personal identity, and peace of mind. As the tax season picks up pace, scammers will capitalize on the pressure taxpayers are under. This year’s filing deadline is Monday, April 18.
“Tax scammers are online and in-person,” says Dennis Horton, director of the Rockford Regional Office of the Better Business Bureau. “No matter how you get your taxes done, scammers are waiting in the wings. BBB developed a comprehensive guide to reducing your risk of tax fraud.”
Tax Identity Theft Scams Tax identity theft occurs when a scammer uses your Social Security number to file a tax return in your name and collect your refund. Scammers steal tax information in several ways, such as a phishing scam, a phony tax preparation service, or a hack or data breach.
Victims of tax identity theft typically don’t realize they’ve been targeted until they actually file their taxes or much later. It is then that they get a written notice from the IRS saying that more than one tax return was filed, or they were paid by an employer they don’t know.
The best way to avoid tax ID theft is to file your taxes as early as possible before a scammer has the chance to steal your information and file a fake tax return. Obtain from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN). This is a six-digit number, which confirms your…
