Page 2 - 2 LAKEWOOD EDGE FEB 2019 FINAL_Lucid

protecting your refund
YOUR MONEY

TAX REFUND

SCAMMERS

ARE FINDING NEW WAYS TO STEAL FROM YOU

LAKEWOOD

REAL ESTATE EDGE by Susan Tompor Headaches only build, as they By sharing that information data on employees, such as from last year.
The crooks want good,
try to unravel the mess and in real time, she said, others Form W-2 data, which is
coordinated crackdown claim their legitimate tax could crack down on any highly valued by crooks.
Publisher A reliable information in order
Allison Van Wig on tax-related, ID refund. similar types of schemes. “The threats are constantly to create a fraudulent tax
CA DRE #00985700 theft has drastically The IRS has been working The Atlanta TV stations evolving,” said John Ams, return that looks good enough
reduced the numbers of new with state tax agencies and reported more details on executive vice president to bypass IRS filters.
refund fraud victims. But new tax professionals, including tax the elaborate scheme, which for the National Society of Ams, of the National
schemes keep popping up all powerhouses H&R Block and involved an 18-year-old who Accountants. Society of Accountants, said
across the country. Intuit, to safeguard taxpayer allegedly set up an online Bogus email schemes the IRS is hindered because
“ID thieves are growing data since 2015 through a business out of his parents’ try to steal money or key it has no authority to require
in sophistication,” warned partnership called a “Security home. The teen was arrested information that can be used tax professionals to report
4435 E Village Rd Internal Revenue Service Summit.” and accused of attempting to to file fraudulent tax returns. breaches. By reporting breaches
Long Beach, CA 90808 Commissioner Charles Rettig ID thieves aren’t giving scam the state out of more In 2018, for example, the IRS quickly, though, more ID theft
on a call with the news media up, though, so the IRS and than $20 million. The state’s recorded a 60-percent surge in could be stopped, Ams said.
562-882-1581 recently. others are warning about some system spotted the fraud and phishing scams. Tax professionals are
Allison@superbroker.com The IRS touted a aggressive scams. the state did not pay any Beware of subject lines in warned to look out for signs
www.SuperBroker.com 19-percent decline in the The secret sauce of the money. emails that say things like: “IRS of fraud that include: Hearing
number of reported identity Security Summit has included Allegedly, the teen Important Notice” or appear from clients who haven’t yet
theft victims through getting the word out in real amassed billing and banking to be from a government filed tax returns but receive
October 2018, compared time to notify key players in information by selling goods agency that is threatening to refunds or letters from the
with the same period in the tax ecosystem about new on Amazon. It is alleged that seize your tax refund. IRS; filing an electronic return
2017. The decline is even scam twists. he set up withholding accounts Taxpayers can forward email but then getting rejected by
more dramatic—down more Lynne Riley, state revenue and sales tax accounts, schemes to phishing@irs.gov. the system because a return
than 70 percent—compared commissioner for Georgia, overpaid those accounts by Another big trend for with the same Social Security
with 2015. said her state ran up against a more than $25 million and scammers in 2018 focused on number was already filed;
The IRS reported that scam where a business account then requested refunds. targeting tax professionals in and suddenly seeing that
6427 Busch Blvd., about 177,000 taxpayers were was created with the state During the holiday season, order to steal the data of tens the number of returns filed
Columbus, OH 43229
877.872.3080 victims of tax-related ID theft department of revenue. consumers are once again of thousands of tax filers. using the tax practitioner’s
www.DiscoverPubs.com through October 2018. That The crook manipulated the reminded of how important During the 2018 tax filing electronic filing identification
compares with about 242,000 numbers to make it appear as it is to watch out for fake season, the IRS received five number far exceeding the tax
Sudoku, Scrabble, Crossword
and articles distributed by victims in 2017 and about if the business had somehow websites, phishing emails and to seven reports a week from professional’s actual number
Tribune News Services and 699,000 victims in 2015. been overpaying or over- other schemes. tax firms that had experienced of clients. n
Brandpoint where noted. Many times, people withholding required taxes Employers are reminded some level of data theft. So
© Copyright 2019 by discover they’re a victim with the state and then the that they can be targets of far the IRS received 234 ©2019 Detroit Free Press
Discover Publications, Inc.
All rights reserved. when they have trouble with con artist requested fraudulent ID thieves, too, because such reports through Nov. 5, Distributed by Tribune
e-filing their own tax returns. refunds. companies hold sensitive tax 2018. That’s up 29 percent Content Agency, LLC
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