According to the IRS, Criminal Investigation identified $2.3
billion in tax fraud schemes during FY2020. Hackers target tax payers every
year, but the increase in online filings due to COVID-19 in 2020 presented an
even greater opportunity, as scams related to coronavirus tax relief such as
Economic Impact Payments, have now earned a spot on the IRS “Dirty Dozen” tax
scam list. Also relatively new to the list are social media attacks – thanks to
the rapid development and adoption of social media platforms in recent years.
Social media attacks involve scammers harvesting information from social media
profiles, then using that data to impersonate someone you know to gain access
to accounts, funds and more.
Other common attacks include email phishing attacks, phone
calls posing as IRS agents, and robocalls that threaten jail time. Taking
advantage of the current environment, many phishing attacks are now leveraging
keywords such as “coronavirus,” “COVID-19″ and “stimulus.” Additional tax scams
can be harder to spot, such as when a hacker secures someone else’s Social
Security number (SSN) and begins exploiting this sensitive information on the
dark web and facilitating fraudulent tax returns. The IRS has warned about
scams related to SSN, where scammers claim to be able to suspend or cancel the
victim’s SSN, hoping that fear will get consumers to return robocall
voicemails.
Consumers can do their part this tax season to protect their
personal information and keep their finances secure:
- Beware of phishing attempts. Phishing is a common tactic hackers leverage during tax season, so double-check legitimacy of any unfamiliar or remotely suspicious emails. Be wary of strange file attachment names and remember that the Office of Social Security or IRS will not email taxpayers.
- File before a scammer does it for you. The more prompt you are to file, the less likely your data will be raked in by a fraudster.
- Watch out for spoofed websites. Scammers have extremely sophisticated tools that help disguise phony web addresses for DIY tax software, such as stolen company logos and site designs. Be sure to type the URL directly into the address bar of your browser instead of following a link from an email or internet search.
- Make social media profiles private. To prevent social media scams, adjust your account settings such that only friends and family can see them. Additionally, reduce your overall digital footprint to make yourself safer from these types of cybercrimes.
- Consider a holistic security solution, such as McAfee Total Protection, to give you peace of mind that your identity and personal information are safeguarded this tax season, either if you are handling on your own online or communicating virtually with your tax advisor.
McAfee Corp. (Nasdaq: MCFE) is a leader in personal security
for consumers. Focused on protecting people, not just devices, McAfee consumer
solutions adapt to users’ needs in an always online world, empowering them to
live securely through integrated, intuitive solutions that protects their
families and communities with the right security at the right moment. For more
information, please visit https://www.mcafee.com/consumer.
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