Lately, the tax scam &
phishing artists have changed tactics. Whereas before, they always
targeted the unsuspecting taxpayer, now they are targeting the tax
preparers! Be sure your tax preparer has proper security in place to
protect your identity!
- Trudy
New Tax Scam Targets Income Tax Preparers
The IRS is warning return preparers and other
tax professionals to be on guard against bogus emails making the rounds seeking
updated personal or professional information that in reality are phishing
schemes.
“I urge taxpayers to be
wary of clicking on strange emails and websites,” said IRS Commissioner John
Koskinen. “They may be scams to steal your personal information.”
Specifically, the bogus
email asks tax professionals to update their IRS e-services portal information
and Electronic Filing Identification Numbers (EFINs). The links that are
provided in the bogus email to access IRS e-services appear to be a phishing
scheme designed to capture your username and password. This email was not
generated by the IRS e-services program. Disregard this email and do not click
on the links provided.
Phishing made this year’s
Dirty Dozen list of IRS tax scams. The full list is
available on IRS.gov.
Phishing is a scam
typically carried out with the help of unsolicited email or a fake website that
poses as a legitimate site to lure in potential victims and prompt them to
provide valuable personal and financial information. Armed with this
information, a criminal can commit identity theft or financial theft.
If you receive an
unsolicited email that appears to be from either the IRS or an organization
closely linked to the IRS, such as the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System
(EFTPS), report it by sending it to phishing@irs.gov.
In general, the IRS has
added and strengthened protections in our processing systems this filing season
to protect the nation's taxpayers. For this tax season, we continue to make
important progress in stopping identity theft and other fraudulent refunds.
It is important to keep
in mind the IRS generally does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email to
request personal or financial information. This includes any type of electronic
communication, such as text messages and social media channels. The IRS has
information online that can help you protect yourself from email scams.
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