The US tax season continues. Millions of people are reviewing all their documentation to file their return on time. The majority are seeking not only to comply with their obligation and avoid sanctions, but also to receive a possible refund. However, care must be taken, since Criminals have found a way to steal money that belongs to taxpayers.
Many families count on tax refunds to be able to pay their debts or have a financial boost to save and invest in other needs. Criminals are aware of the amount of money that moves during the season and seek to steal identity of taxpayers.
According to media information NBCNews, only in 2023, The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) received more than 294,100 reports of identity theft, the second largest amount in history, trailing only the 328,591 cases in 2021 when crime spiked due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Although the tax agency requests personal information to verify the identity of taxpayers, for example, their address and social security number, Cybercriminals can obtain much of this data through virtual scams.
Given the situation, The IRS has improved its systems to identify identity theft through internal filters. However, the reality is that most of the responsibility falls on the taxpayer. In this sense, the authorities recommend the following:
- File your taxes quickly. Don't wait until the deadline.
- Enroll in the IRS IP PIN program through which you will obtain a unique identity password.
- Stay alert to detect any type of scam.
How do criminals who steal tax refunds operate?
The IRS points out that in this type of fraud the most common mode of operation involves a person falsely impersonating an agency worker and assure the taxpayer that their information has been compromised with the intention of deceiving them and be able to obtain your personal data.
In that sense, The IRS emphasizes that it never initiates a digital contact to request personal information. Therefore, if you receive a request via text message, email, or social media, you should assume it is a scam.
He also clarified that even if the call appears to come from an official number, The agency will never request credit or debit card information over the phone. If you have questions about whether you are actually contacting an IRS employee, it is best to call directly for advice.
However, the reality is that the information needed to file a false tax return is not that difficult to obtain, so It is best to always be aware of the possible procedures that could be carried out on your behalf. Consider that if you are a victim of a scam, it takes the agency more than a year to resolve an identity theft case, so although it could solve the problem, you will have to assume the financial consequences in the meantime.
If you become a victim of identity fraud, you should immediately report it to the authorities. Through the Federal Trade Commission there is a special window to report.
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