Prevent Tax Season Cons and Fraud Early Scams & Fraud
Early Tax Season Cons
Crooks start off early in tax season to fleece you before you file
Getty Images Tax season is stressful enough without the threat of identity theft scammers trying to get their hands on your personal information. Whether you're gleefully expecting a refund or dreading writing that IRS check, scammers hit full throttle as you gear up for tax season, continuing through April 15 (and even afterward). Here's how to stay clear of them. Mail thieves br
In coming weeks, tax-filing documents from employers, banks and financial firms should be hitting your mailbox — and so could identity thieves. Late January through mid-February provides ideal opportunity for mail-stealing crooks to retrieve documents detailing personal information — including your Social Security number — so they can open fraudulent credit accounts in your name. Employers are required to mail W-2 and 1099 forms by Jan. 31, but banks and brokerage firms may have later deadlines. If you're not home to quickly retrieve mail when it's delivered, think about asking a trusted at-home neighbor to do it. Or consider installing a locking mailbox or renting a P.O. box or having your mail held at the post office for personal pick-up. At the very least, pay close attention to which expected tax documents have arrived and when; if they're not received by mid-February, call the sender to ask why. AARP Discounts
IRS impersonators
Tax Man tricksters typically begin a campaign of and bogus emails as tax-filing season arrives. So beware of people claiming to need your personal information (such as your Social Security number), reporting a "problem" with past returns, or promising "new" or "updated" sent by email. Click to download these "forms" and you may well be downloading malware. The IRS does not initiate taxpayer communications through email, so don't respond — or click on links. If you get an unexpected phone call claiming to be from the tax agency, hang up and call the IRS at 800-829-1040 to check its authenticity. Legitimate tax correspondence will arrive by U.S. mail in a sealed envelope. So beware of trash mailings like one that appears to suggest an impending tax audit -— but actually is bait to sell "audit protection services" for up to $50 per month. Take Action: Sid Kirchheimer
Learn more about scams expert and . Refund rip-offs
In recent years, billions of dollars in refunds have been collected by scammers who e-file fraudulent returns under the identities of legitimate taxpayers. This scam is often conducted by street gangs who attend classes held by identity thieves. They don't need W-2s or other supporting documents, just basics like your name, SSN and birthdate — and a computer. Your refund may end up direct-deposited into a bank account temporarily used by the scammer under the false identity, mailed out as a treasury check (often to a vacant home) or preloaded on a debit card, with which the money can be withdrawn from an ATM. Learn more details about this and how to protect yourself. To avoid having your refund fall into the wrong hands, . Tax ID scammers tend to begin filing bogus returns by mid- to late-February — if you've already filed, they can't get your money. And if you mail your tax return, put it in a secure mailbox or hand it to a mail carrier. Don't leave it for pick-up in your home mailbox. Speak Out: Costly bad advice
Have you been promised "free" government money or "secret" tax breaks if you'll file new paperwork with the IRS? Don't believe it. These and other conning claims are the calling cards of unscrupulous tax preparers who seek easy money at your expense — assuming they're not outright scammers intent on stealing information from your tax forms to commit identity theft or sell that data to other fraudsters on the black market. Some operate from temporary storefronts or recruit clients by holding "seminars" advertised on church or public bulletin boards. Before trusting any new tax preparer or website, do your homework. Get referrals from friends and family and check credentials with your state's You can ensure that e-file providers are author of Scam-Proof Your Life, writes about consumer and health issues for AARP Media. Also of Interest
— Receive access to exclusive information, benefits and discounts Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures
Close In the next 24 hours, you will receive an email to confirm your subscription to receive emails related to AARP volunteering. Once you confirm that subscription, you will regularly receive communications related to AARP volunteering. In the meantime, please feel free to search for ways to make a difference in your community at Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again.