Webinar on Identity Theft Scams January 27
Tax season is getting close — and for some people, so is an experience with tax identity theft or IRS imposters. Tax identity theft happens when someone uses your Social Security number to get a tax refund or a job. Scammers are smart people. They make you believe that they are who they say they are and threaten you with action, even arrest, if you don’t comply!
You usually find out something’s wrong after you file your tax return. Also, IRS imposters work year-round — posing as the IRS when they call and say you owe taxes. They even threaten to arrest you if you don’t put money on a prepaid debit card and tell them the card number. They might know all or part of your Social Security number, and can fake caller ID information to make it look like it really is the IRS calling. But it’s not. Ever.
Want to know what you can do about identity theft scams? January 26th-30th is Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week. That week, the FTC (Federal Trade Commission), AARP, and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) will be hosting a webinar (an informational presentation on the web). If you have a computer, you can join the free presentation by simply logging on to that website (see information below).
Join them to get the facts about these scams and learn how to protect yourself and those you care about:
Webinar on Tax Identity Theft and IRS Imposter Scams
Hosted by the FTC, AARP, and TIGTA
Open to everyone
Tuesday, Jan. 27th 2:00-3:30pm EST
Find login information, as well as articles and other resources, at ftc.gov/taxidtheft. If you have trouble finding the login site, you have to scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on the “To join the webinar:” blue text, then follow the instructions given.
And, again, if anyone calls you asking for your social security number, your credit card info, your bank account information, tell them that we handle all your finances and to call Bressler & Company at 559.924.1225. Then, give us a call and let us know.
NEVER give out any of your personal information no matter what they threaten to do.
If you want more information, here’s a link to a brochure on Identity Theft Prevention and Victim Assistance by the IRS. The blue section on page 2 is in English. Just scroll down to page 2.
