Posts tagged identity theft
Death and Finances: Eight Things to Do After a Loved One Passes Away
Feb 25th
by Lynnette Khalfani-Cox
Dealing with the death of a loved one is stressful enough. But not knowing what to do with someone’s finances after the person has passed away poses an additional burden on a grieving family.
To make the process a bit easier, here’s a checklist of the top eight money matters you must deal with — and mistakes to avoid — after someone you care about dies.
This checklist isn’t all-inclusive. But what follows is critical information that can save you precious time, money and energy, as well as help you avoid squabbles over assets or financial exploitation.
To read the rest of Ms. Khalfani-Cox’s article, please go http://aol.it/ePIeO2.
EFTPS Scam
Oct 7th
by Smithford Business Lawyers, http://on.fb.me/avujwG
The IRS has issued a warning about a new phishing targeting businesses & others using the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System.
The EFTPS tax payment site is available to make direct tax payments online to the U.S. Treasury, including personal taxes and estimated business taxes. The recent IRS warning is about a new scam that uncovered a new scam that uses a spam email that states that ‘Your EFTPS Tax Payment ID has been rejected’.
The email looks something like this:
From: “EFTPS Tax Payment” <customers@eftps.gov> </span>
Subject: Urgent. Your Tax Payment ID: 010334205 is failed.</span>
Your Federal Tax Payment ID: XXXXXXXXXXX has been rejected. Return Reason Code R21 – The identification number used in the Company Identification Field is not valid.
Please, check the information and refer to Code R21 to get details about your company payment in transaction contacts section:
In other way forward information to your accountant adviser.
EFTPS: The Electronic Federal Tax Payment System
PLEASE NOTE: Your tax payment is due regardless of EFTPS online availability. In case of an emergency, you can always make your tax payment by calling the EFTPS.
A recipient who becomes alarmed at the message and clicks on the link provided, is brought to a web site which looks virtually identical to the real EFTPS site (see the two images below). The fake website is a “.com” instead of a “.gov” site. Filling out the information requested gives the scammer access to bank account information.
The IRS asks that recipients forward the fake email to the IRS investigators at phishing@irs.gov.
Top 10 Things Every Taxpayer Should Know about Identity Theft
Aug 31st
IRS Summertime Tax Tips 2010-11 http://bit.ly/avRjSv
Taxpayers need to be careful to protect their personal information. Identity thieves use many methods to steal personal information and then they use the information to file a tax return and get a refund. Here are 10 things the IRS wants you to know about identity theft so you can avoid becoming the victim of an identity thief.
- The IRS does not initiate contact with a taxpayer by e-mail.
- If you receive a scam e-mail claiming to be from the IRS, forward it to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov
- Identity thieves get your personal information by many different means, including:
- Stealing your wallet or purse
- Posing as someone who needs information about you through a phone call or e-mail
- Looking through your trash for personal information
- Accessing information you provide to an unsecured Internet site.
- If you discover a website that claims to be the IRS but does not begin with ‘www.irs.gov’, forward that link to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov
- To learn how to identify a secure website, visit the Federal Trade Commission at www.onguardonline.gov/tools/recognize-secure-site-using-ssl.aspx
- If your Social Security number is stolen, another individual may use it to get a job. That person’s employer may report income earned by them to the IRS using your Social Security number, thus making it appear that you did not report all of your income on your tax return.
- Your identity may have been stolen if a letter from the IRS indicates more than one tax return was filed for you or the letter states you received wages from an employer you don’t know. If you receive such a letter from the IRS, leading you to believe your identity has been stolen, respond immediately to the name, address or phone number on the IRS notice.
- If your tax records are not currently affected by identity theft, but you believe you may be at risk due to a lost wallet, questionable credit card activity, or credit report, you need to provide the IRS with proof of your identity. You should submit a copy of your valid government-issued identification – such as a Social Security card, driver’s license, or passport – along with a copy of a police report and/or a completed Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit. As an option, you can also contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit, toll-free at 800-908-4490. You should also follow FTC guidance for reporting identity theft at www.ftc.gov/idtheft
- Show your Social Security card to your employer when you start a job or to your financial institution for tax reporting purposes. Do not routinely carry your card or other documents that display your Social Security number.
- For more information about identity theft – including information about how to report identity theft, phishing and related fraudulent activity – visit the IRS Identity Theft and Your Tax Records Page, which you can find by searching “Identity Theft” on the IRS.gov home page.
Links:
Identity Theft and Your Tax Records
Suspicious e-Mails and Identity Theft
Department of Treasury’s Identity theft resource page
Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) consumer Web site
YouTube Videos:
BBB Teaches Best Back-to-School Lesson: How Students Can Avoid Identity Theft
Aug 25th
College students have enough to worry about without falling prey to scammers looking to steal their identities and good credit.
“Identity thieves don’t care if you’re a struggling student and don’t have a penny to your name; sometimes all they want is to exploit your clean credit record,” says Angie Barnett, president and CEO of the Greater Maryland Better Business Bureau. “Young adults that establish good habits for monitoring and detecting fraud are laying a path that will help create a healthy financial road for the rest of their lives.”
A report on fraud showed that college students are the slowest to catch identity theft.
The National Consumers League and the Better Business Bureau have each put together some tips to keep your identity safe and get through the semester.
To read the rest of this article by Linda Doell, please go to http://bit.ly/c8Juyj.
Your 5-Minute Guide to Protecting Your Identity
Jul 21st
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