Tag: Confidence trick

Watch Out For IRS Tax Scams

There have been reported incidents of swindlers using an IRS pitch as a IRS Tax scam. One such incident happened to Brett. He panicked after hearing a phone message that the IRS was about to investigate him. Brett is a 43 year old contractor from the County of Morrow. He wondered whether he had missed anything in regards to his Free Turbo Tax application. So he decided to make a call back and then his worry turned to anger. There are lots of scammers out there especially as the Tax period gets near. More about IRS Tax Scams:

IRS Tax Scams

At this time of the year, thieves and con artists fine tune their tricks and up their game in order to swindle individuals, often threatening them with jail terms and deportation. The IRS has now issued an alert to the public, warning of the phone scam and other scams people are likely to be exposed to at this time of making their tax returns. Turbo Tax should help people allay their fears in regards to their 2016 taxes.

IRS Tax Scams
Photo by Judith E. Bell 

The Ohio State Attorney General has been fielding questions and complaints from local residents, especially those from the counties of Morrow, Fairfield and Franklin. It is expected that con artists will pull scams pretending to be from the government as this helps their scams seem more legitimate.

After The Events In Boston And Texas, Charity Scams Are Common

Charity Scams Are Common

When you use TurboTax to file your taxes, you may notice that you can write off the money that you gave to charities. This is a good way to reduce your total tax bill or get a bigger return, and you get to help the victims of tragedies at the same time. However, the IRS has said that taxpayers like yourself need to be aware of common charity scams that can cheat you out of your money.

Walk for Cancer - it's raining!
Walk for Cancer – it’s raining! (Photo credit: miamism)

Many charity scams crop up after every tragedy, and the ones in Boston and Texas are no exception. Most of the time, charity scams will be set up to look like real charities that you may have reported contributions to on TurboTax before. They could mimic the name, the color scheme and other important aspects. Always make sure that you check with the IRS to see if the charity is verified before donating.

It is also important that you never give out your social security number, your credit card numbers, or any other personal information. Some charity scams will use these things to steal your identity, and they can then steal your money later on, above and beyond what you donate so that you can write it off on TurboTax. On top of this, you never want to donate cash just in case the organization is a charity scam. It is easier to report transactions on TurboTax if you donate with a check or a credit card, and this means that you have a record of the transaction if it is a scam.