Staff Report news@harrisondaily.com
It’s been calculated that around 97% of tax returns for 2021 have been already submitted electronically. However, during tax season, average taxpayers and tax preparation businesses, especially accounting firms, become prime targets for hackers looking to exploit any vulnerability that comes with paperless procedures.
Oliver Noble, a cybersecurity expert at NordLocker, says that whether you do taxes on your own or employ an accountant, protecting your personal documents should be a priority.
“Many people have lost thousands of dollars and had their personal data and even their identity stolen through tax scams. It is vitally important to take security into consideration when going about this annual taxpayer duty,” he explains.
Noble offers three basic tips on how to avoid tax filing risks online.
1. Learn to identify a phishing scam
Phishing is an attempt to steal confidential data from internet users through impersonation. This criminal technique is most often used in emails and text messages. According to the FTC, the imposter scam is the number one type of fraud in the US, costing Americans hundreds of millions of dollars. To avoid having your money or identity stolen through phishing, remember this:
• Never click on links you receive in emails, text messages, or social media posts claiming to be from the IRS (Internal Revenue Service). The IRS does not ask for…
