To help taxpayers avoid being scammed, the New York State Department
of Taxation and Finance today highlighted some common tactics used by
identity thieves and cybercriminals.
The strategies to steal sensitive personal data range from the simple to the complex, as described in the examples below.
Threatening calls: Scam artists who use this tactic
try to bully or trick victims into disclosing private information, or
convince them to wire money to pay a tax debt or fine. If a caller,
perhaps posing as a New York State Tax Department or IRS agent,
threatens an arrest or fines, it’s a scam. Neither agency threatens
taxpayers, and they notify taxpayers by letter first before making any
calls or sending any emails.
Unusual emails: Phishing emails often contain links
that can activate malware or lead to phony websites that request
personal information. Misspellings or unfamiliar logos in the email or
subject line are obvious clues that it’s a scam attempt, but some of the
bogus emails and websites are convincing. Hovering over the links may
reveal an unusual webpage address (URL) that confirms the sender’s true
intent. To be safe, simply delete these emails and any that are
unsolicited, and never click the links within them.
Remember, the Tax Department never requests personal or financial information by email.
Offers to collect tax payment in person: If a caller
claiming to be from the Tax Department or IRS offers to meet you at a
specified location to collect a payment, it’s a scam. This is never an
option with the IRS or Tax Department. End the call immediately.
Request for a specific type of payment: If you’re
being told to pay through a prepaid debit card or an iTunes gift card,
this is a tell-tale sign of a scam. The Tax Department and IRS provide
various payment options, but the use of gift cards isn’t one of them.
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