Protect Your Identity & Tax Refund
Yvette Caslin, EA, MLO
Storyteller + Licensed Tax Strategist (Enrolled Agent) + Mortgage Coach
Beware! Last week a BFF for life reached out to me about a scam that she came across and asked my perspective. She already knew the answer and I knew she really just needed to add texture to her suspicions. Of course after research and reviewing the post online, I was able to verify through some reliable resources that she needed to run away quickly.
The scam is essentially in place to outwit some gullible family out of their income tax refund. Trust and believe me when I tell you there isn’t a homeowner in Atlanta reducing the price of their home more than 75 percent and requiring a cash deposit in their bank account in order for you to speak with them.
Here are some ways to protect yourself from tax refund fraudsters.
1. Never share your Social Security Number with someone you don’t know. It’s very sensitive and holds a great deal of value.
2. Don’t file your tax return in public places. Always use a secure internet connection.
3. Research the tax professional before you give them sensitive information like your government ID and SS card.
4. Don’t click emails that look suspicious. I’ve been audited by the IRS in the past. It’s why I started my own business and why I am so vigilant about my personal taxes and my clients’ returns. The IRS contacts you by the US Postal Service (USPS). They reported in 2019 that 250,321,406 tax returns were filed. Picking up the phone to call or even emailing you is an impossible task to manage so they stick with traditional and secure means to contact you (in my opinion).
5. Believe it or not, the last four digits of your SS Number and date of birth are worth a bar of gold to scam artists. Keep this information private.
6. For more than a decade, www.annualcreditreport.com has been issuing one free credit report per year. It is the only organization that does it without making you apply for a monitoring service.
7. File your tax return now so you can get ahead of the thieves. If you haven't filed and are in need of a certified tax professional, please give me a call (404) 490-2801.