Be On The Lookout For Tax Scams

It’s officially “Tax Day,”  and it’s important to remember thieves are out in full force to scam you.

In the past, thieves would call, posing as an IRS agent saying there was a discrepancy in your tax filing and you needed to make a payment over the phone. Now these scammers are targeting victims via email, again posing as IRS agents. The emails may even appear to be from the IRS, but are not legitimate.

Law enforcement wants to remind you that the IRS will never contact you by any means other than a first-class letter. Never click the links within these emails as the can steal your personal information, or infect your computer with a virus.

Another scam has recently surfaced, where residents receive a phone call from someone posing as a representative of the Social Security Administration. The caller wants you to confirm your Social Security Number to determine if it’s been compromised.

Cherokee County Sheriff David Groves tells News Talk KZRG- just hang up.

“As a general rule, anytime someone calls you unsolicited and is asking for any type of personal information, you should hang up on them. Legitimate organizations recognize the risks involved with identity theft and will take measures to limit any breach of privacy and safeguard personal information. Scammers and thieves, on the other hand, are making numerous phone calls every day, in hopes of coming across someone who will give them the information they need to steal money, or con the victim into providing credit card, checking account or gift card information over the phone.”

You can also make sure fraudulent accounts haven’t been opened in your name by reviewing your credit report. You can check your credit report free of charge, once a year, at www.annualcreditreport.com.