It seems that there are a lot of people interested in our Social Security numbers these days! Actually, it has been that way for a long time.
RumboughRecently, South Carolina residents were alerted to a problem whereby the Department of Revenue’s computers were hacked into, and several million Social Security numbers were stolen. The State of South Carolina has provided a method for you to check on your Social Security number and, if it was stolen, they have provided security to protect your identity for one year. Hopefully, you have checked this out and have made the necessary provisions. If not, go to www.sctax.org. Click on the large blue box, and follow the instructions.
In addition to the scare with the South Carolina hacking, the IRS has recently issued another warning about some scammers who are trying to mimic the IRS e-Services online registration page. This particular one has to do with the IRS e-Services feature, which offers web-based products for tax preparers and payers.
The phony web page looks almost identical to the real one. The IRS gets many reports of fake websites like this that affect all of us. Criminals use these sites to lure people into providing personal and financial information that may be used to steal the victim’s money or identity. The address of the official IRS website is www.irs.gov.
Don’t be misled by sites claiming to be the IRS but ending in any other extension except .gov. If you find a suspicious website that claims to be the IRS, send the site’s URL by email to phishing@irs.gov. Use the subject line, “suspicious website.” Be aware that the IRS does not initiate contact with the taxpayers by email to request personal or financial information. This includes any type of electronic communication, such as text messages and social media channels. If you get an unsolicited email that appears to be from the IRS, report it by sending it to phishing@irs.gov. The IRS has information at www.irs.gov that can help you protect yourself from tax scams of all kinds. Search the site using the term “phishing.” These warnings remind us of what our mothers told us: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
– Rumbough, CPA, CFP, is chief operations officer with the Baptist Foundation of South Carolina. Contact her at 800-723-7242. In accordance with IRS Circular 230, any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this communication is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing, or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.