Unfortunately, getting your identity stolen and personal information compromised is all too common. Thieves steal other people’s identity for many reasons, including filing a fraudulent tax return (to claim the refund), committing credit card fraud, or trying to get a job. Here are a few things to know when protecting yourself against identity thieves:
- The IRS will never contact you via email or phone to request personal information. If you receive a scam email claiming to be the IRS, report it to phishing@irs.gov.
- People can steal your identity by stealing your wallet or purse, receiving information they need over the phone or email, finding your personal information in the trash, or accessing information you provide to an unsecured website (only ever enter credit card information on secure websites that start with “https://”).
- Your identity may have been stolen if a letter from the IRS indicates that more than one tax return was filed for you.
Read more tips here.
* This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax professional.
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