Scammers are reportedly developing new ways to fool people of their $ 1,400 coronavirus stimulus checks.
Here’s what you need to know to avoid getting scammed this tax season.
1
Scammers have used one scheme after another to get desperate Americans out of the coronavirus bailout.
Now that it’s tax season, scammers are reportedly filing fake tax returns to steal the refund. It follows that countless Americans are tricked or scared into giving up their Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and ultimately their money.
DO NOT SEND E-SIGNATURES
Amy Nofziger, director of victim support for the AARP Fraud Watch Network, says a consumer was contacted by someone who allegedly came from USATaxHelp12@gmail.com and allegedly had a way to expedite a stimulus payment.
Unfortunately, the victim signed an electronic document that allowed the scammers to access their electronic signature for future use.
Americans are warned to remain cautious about receiving emails with documents signed. If you haven’t requested the documents, it is likely a phishing attack.
DO NOT CLICK ON TEXT MESSAGE LINKS
Sarah Kull, Special Judicial Officer for the Detroit Field Office’s Internal Revenue Service, also warns of a surge in economic impact payment systems, including text messages asking taxpayers to disclose bank account information.
One text posted by scammers read, “You have a pending claim of $ 1,200.00 from the TREAS 310 COVID-19 tax break.”
The incorrect text is: “Further action is required to accept this payment. … Proceed here to accept this payment …”
According to Office advice, texts are not part of legitimate stimulus rollout programs.
When a victim clicks the link, they are redirected to a phishing web address.
A fake link took people to what appeared to be the Get My Payment website at IRS.gov, according to an IRS warning in November.
After visiting the fake website, once victims entered their personal and financial account information, scammers warned that scammers could collect this information for use in identity theft-related crimes.
The IRS is asking people who received this text scam to send a screenshot in an email to phishing@irs.gov stating when you received the text message, the phone number that it allegedly came from, and the phone number that the Text received.
“The IRS does not initiate any contact”
It remains the official advice that you shouldn’t answer a letter or phone call about paying or refunding taxes out of the blue.
Some information can be obtained by scammers from public databases or elsewhere, making the contact appear legitimate and official.
However, it was stressed that the IRS will not recall taxes without first sending written notice.
If you get a call out of the blue, this is a scam.
A new IRS warning states: “The IRS will not initiate contact with taxpayers via email, SMS or social media channel to request personal or financial information.”
“Generally, the IRS first sends a paper invoice to someone who owes taxes.”
“In some special situations, the IRS will call or come to a home or business.”
The warnings come as speculation about a possible fourth round of economic support mounts.
Despite the increasing cases in the US and the pandemic-hit economy that has not fully recovered, Americans have been warned not to bet on another payment.
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According to Google Trends, online searches for the term “fourth stimulus check” have increased in recent weeks.
More than 60 members of Congress are urging President Biden to support a fourth stimulus check as they say many Americans are still fighting the COVID-19 crisis for another year.
However, economists forecasting coronavirus growth of over $ 1.9 trillion under President Biden’s bill said the chances of a fourth stimulus check are still very unknown – but unlikely.
Hope for more impetus than Biden to put another coronavirus recovery bill on the 1.9 ton package
