When it comes to the IRS you have to be careful and be on the lookout for scammers. They become a big problem when tax season is getting close. They find this is a good time to start reaching out to people pretending to be the IRS. They target the elderly, students with debt, and immigrants. The reason for this is because they are the most vulnerable with the lack of knowledge on technology, the real world, or even the English language.
There are three ways the scammers try to get information from people phone calls, emails and sometimes in person. There are some steps that can be taken to try to avoid from being a victim of the scammers.
- When it comes to emails that say they are from the IRS it is better to delete it and not click on the link. The link that is provided on the email is usually always embedded with a code that allows them to steal information from your computer. It is also important to never give any personal information.
- Since there can be times when the IRS can appear either in your house or at work it is important to know what questions to ask to be able to verify that they are not scammers. When they arrive, you can ask them to provide credentials called HSPD-12- card. The credentials will provide a picture of them, their name, rank, and expiration date If you still want a little more confirmation because you are not totally convinced, they can provide you with a toll-free number that you can verify if they are an employee.
- The IRS will only ever contact you in two ways. One way is by sending you a letter through the mail. Then in some rare instances they show up to either your home or your job.
In Neat Books we want to make sure that your information is safe. If you need more information, you can contact us here.
