It is that time of the year again. Citizens across the United States will be paying their taxes pretty soon. If you’re lucky, there is a real possibility that you’ll get money back. If you make too much though, they’ll be required to pay into the government. With technology improving consistently, scammers are finding new and more innovative ways to scam tax payers. In recent months, Utah citizens have been hit harder than ever before. If you reside in the state of Utah, it is absolutely pertinent to take steps to protect yourself from potential fraud. Within this guide, you’ll learn more about tax scam calls and ways to shield yourself from them.
Be Aware Of Double Filing
Believe it or not, people can file taxes twice. This can be very dangerous for you. There is always a risk that someone is going to file taxes in your name. If this happens, there is a good chance that you’re going to get yourself into big trouble. Some scammers will do this by using a Utah fake ID. If the IRS flags you for filing taxes twice in one year, you should take note and act immediately. Be sure to get everything in order so you can fight back and clear your good name. Otherwise, you might end up paying for taxes that are not yours to begin with. Take precautions and protect yourself to the fullest.
The best line of defense is to be proactive from start to finish.
Email Scams
Over the years, scammers have gone above and beyond to find new and innovative ways to scam unsuspecting consumers. This is why more and more people are getting scammed through emails. Believe it or not, phishing emails are far more common and effective than you could ever imagine. With that being said, you need to take steps to ensure that you’re not being scammed. Remember that the IRS is not going to contact you through emails. This only happens after you submit your taxes or contact the agency directly.
Don’t fall for it. Remember that email scams can be very deceptive. They might look legitimate, but there is a good chance that they’re fake. Make sure that you contact the IRS directly. Otherwise, you might be giving your information directly to a scammer. Don’t give up any information without knowing exactly who you’re contacting in advance.
Tips For Spotting Scam Emails
Before doing anything, you should take the time to evaluate the email thoroughly before replying. Otherwise, you’re going to get yourself into big trouble. When attempting to determine whether or not the email is legitimate, you should examine its contents. If the email attempting to gain access to your private information such as your credit card or bank details? If this is the case, you should be very cautious. There is a good chance that you’re dealing with a fraud. Do not fall for it. Be very cautious and make sure that you’re safe. Do not give anyone your information unless you’re positive that it is from a real IRS agent.
Also, be sure to report the phishing emails to the IRS. This will ensure that others do not fall prey to their scammer.
Know How The IRS Will Contact You
While you’re at it, you should take the time to find out how the IRS is going to get in touch with you. Remember that the agency is pretty much never going to get in touch with you via email. This almost never happens. It is also very rare that the IRS is going to call you on the phone. Instead, it is most common for the Internal Revenue Service to contact consumers via snail mail. In general, they’re going to send consumers a certified letter. When you get a letter from the IRS, you’re going to know it. You might need to sign for the letter. It will have the IRS emblem on it.
If you receive this type of letter, you can almost guarantee that it is directly from the Internal Revenue Service. Remember that the IRS is never going to send out emails in an unsolicited manner. If you receive an email from someone claiming to be with the IRS, there is a really good chance that it is completely bogus.
Don’t Click Links
When it comes down to it, scam emails are not actually dangerous. They’re only going to be dangerous when you act on those emails. You should never fall for it. You probably receive scam emails each and every day. This is very common for Utah residents. With that being said, you should be very cautious. Most of the time, the emails are going to be caught by the spam filters. Nevertheless, there is a possibility that this is not going to happen. You might find a scam email in your inbox.
If this happens, you need to be very cautious. Make sure that you do not click on any of the links found in the email. At the same time, you should avoid opening the attachments. Both are incredibly dangerous. If you click on these things, there is a possibility that your computer is going to be hijacked by some type of malicious software. Be cautious and make sure you and your computer are safe!
What To Do About IRS Scam Emails
If you receive scam emails from someone pretending to be the IRS, you should act accordingly. First and foremost, you should go ahead and delete the email. Get rid of the email as quickly as possible. If you want to be on the safe side, you should go ahead and run your favorite antivirus software. This will ensure that your computer has not been impacted by a virus. It is also a good idea to get in touch with the IRS directly. Make sure that they’re aware of the situation. They can help you ensure that your information has not been used erroneously. At the same time, they can take steps to help others avoid becoming victims of IRS scammers.
About IRS Phone Call Scams
During the past few years, Utah residents have been hit hard by IRS phone scams. It has been said these scams cost United States consumers millions of dollars each and every year. With that being said, you need to know what to look for to ensure that you’re not going to become a victim. First and foremost, you should know that scammers will use unsolicited calls. This means that you haven’t contacted the IRS and there is no reason for them to contact you. In this type of situation, the call would be unsolicited. Be cautious of this. At the same time, you should be careful of callers who are attempting to scare you.
If they saying that they’re going to get you arrested or fired from your job, you can almost guarantee that you’re dealing with a scammer. You have to be worried about caller ID spoofing too. Scammers know how to place calls in a way that makes them appear they’re coming from the IRS. If you get a call from someone pretending to be working with the IRS, you should hang up the phone immediately.
Call the IRS office directly and get in touch with an agent. This is the best way to determine whether or not the phone call was legitimate.
Remember that IRS scammers are constantly trying new techniques and tricks. Therefore, consumers have to be on their toes at all times. This is the only way to avoid becoming a victim of an IRS scam.
What To Do If You Owe Taxes
If you suspect that you might owe taxes to the IRS, you should act immediately. The good news is that there are plenty of IRS agents out there and they’re more than willing to help. You should use this to your advantage. You can call the IRS directly at their 1-800 number. This is the best way to determine whether or not you owe taxes. If you do, you should get that problem solved as quickly as possible.
If You Don’t
If you do not owe taxes, you’re going to need to get in touch with the appropriate agencies too. First, you should contact the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC has a complaint assistant on its website. You can use this online form to report the incident right away. Be sure to use the IRS Telephone Scam system to get the incident reported. You should also get in touch with TIGTA. Let them know that someone has been impersonating the IRS. This is the best way to protect yourself and others.
