What does the IRS list as the number-one scam of concern to taxpayers? (Hint: It’s not taxes.)
In the run-up to this year’s April 15 tax deadline, taxpayers forwarded more than 33,000 phishing scam e-mails to the IRS, causing the agency to put phishing at the top of its annual list of scams of concern to taxpayers.
Although tax time is prime time for identity theft, don’t think the threat is any less insidious when April 15 is the last thing on your mind. The world is full of con artists seeking to use the Internet year-round to trick you into revealing personal information that they can use for fraudulent purposes.
Keep It to Yourself
When identity theft takes place over the Internet, it’s generally referred to as phishing, a word derived from “password harvesting fishing” and the idea that the perpetrator is “fishing” for information. A typical scenario involves a seemingly authentic e-mail, purportedly from a bank, creditor, or the IRS, asking the recipient to verify account information. Internet users who respond with the requested information are actually giving thieves the tools to access their online accounts.
The following tips can help you spot some common phishing expeditions.
- Never respond to unsolicited requests for account information.
- Don’t follow links sent to you via e-mail to access your accounts. Instead, go directly to the account provider’s secure Web site.
- Check your account regularly to look for suspicious activity.
- Be suspicious of poor spelling and grammar in the subject line or message.
- Watch out for Web addresses that contain a familiar company name but also have a dash or underscore in the address.