WATCH OUT FOR SCAMMERS, SAY THE EXPERTS, AS TAX SEASON BEGINS

WATCH OUT FOR SCAMMERS, SAY THE EXPERTS,  AS TAX SEASON BEGINS

The 2016 Tax season has begun meaning you can start filing your returns.

However, there is also a strong consumer alert out, to be vigilant for thieves who are out to steal not only your money but your identity as well.

There are a lot of IRS scams. Like that very convincing call, so many people have had, claiming to be from an IRS investigator who threatens an arrest warrant for tax evasion if you don’t immediately pay up, and regrettably, a lot of people do.

WPTV internet security expert Alan Crowetz of InfoStream www.infostream.cc was interviewed on Ch5 news and said if the IRS is reaching out to you, that’s a red flag.

He said “the IRS do not call you. They are not going to reach out to you on social media and neither are they going to send you an email”.

These scammers know that the best way to trick someone in to paying, is to rush them.

People should not only be wary of phone and email scams. They should protect their personal information. Personal information is very valuable to the scammers and you really should be paranoid about protecting it.

Not protecting your personal information makes it very easy for someone to steal your identity and to file for your tax return. Experts say that the best protection against refund fraud, if filing early.