Tax scams can be scary. You pay the amount thinking you have cleared your taxes, and it turns out that they were con artists. Tax scams are carried out by phony IRS agents, debt collectors, and government employees over the phone, text, email, or via physical mail. The scammers trick people into giving away their financial information or sending money for taxes they do not owe.
Tax scams have been rising rapidly. These criminals usually target people who do not have a good grip on the taxing system and tax laws. To protect yourself from such laws, you should be aware of the common tax scams to recognize them when they happen to you. Having a tax accountant in Troy, MI, can also significantly help avoid such problems.
Top tax scams
- They ask you to fill out tax forms.
The IRS scammers may text or email you, saying, “We have calculated your tax refunds, and you need to fill out this form to get the amount.” They falsely claim to be the IRS and demand your personal information, such as your Social Security Number, addresses, driver’s license number, birthday, etc. They may send you a link that looks like it is legit but is not. This is a fake form to obtain your information.
- Phishing scams.
Phishing scams aim to get the targeted person to click on a link, usually sent via email or text, to obtain information and steal money from them. These links take you to fake IRS websites that may look real but are not. These scammers are often tech experts who use different types of spyware to steal your information without you knowing.
- False charities that solicit donations.
Con artists pay attention to news of people passing away and target their families to solicit donations. If your loved one or family member has recently passed, beware of receiving calls from such scammers. They may ask for donations for charities or to assist victims. Do not give out your financial information, at least not without confirming if they are legit.
- Pretending to help you sign up for an IRS account.
Con artists posing as IRS agents may hit you on the phone and attempt to seek your financial information by pretending to help you sign up for an account. The procedure to create an account is easy, and you should not allow anyone else, other than your trusted family members, to help you with it. This is because you need to enter various intimate financial information that should not fall into the wrong hands.
