By PROF. ANTHONY RIVIECCIO, MBA, PFA
Ladies and gentleman.
Identity theft and tax scamming today have become so simple. Over the course of the last several years, many sad things have happened during tax season: from mailbox fishing, where thieves “fish” for your check in the mail to the “Fake IRS Email” where thieves instruct you to pay your adjusted tax bill on their fraudulent website.
Over the course of the next few articles, we want to highlight the tax scamming ways people are getting ripped off. Tax scamming can be done, in many ways. They’re made even easier once they have some of your identification information. They can call or email you or knock on the door!
Below are the 2017-2018 five most popular, according to the IRS:
1. The one where they call and threaten to arrest you.
2. The one where they steal your refund.
3. The one where they deposit money in your bank account.
4. The one where they send bogus emails about your tax bill or refund.
5. The one where they say you owe a federal student tax.
We will cover the first one, discuss it a bit, and more importantly, ways on how to avoid it.
The one where they call and threaten to arrest you.
How it works:
Folks get a call on their phone from someone claiming to be an inspector with the IRS claiming that you have past-due taxes and that if they aren’t paid immediately, then they’re going to send someone out to arrest you at your home.
To add an air of legitimacy, often the criminals use “spoofing” technology to make the calls look like they’re coming from the Washington, D.C., area. The call thieves say they want to be paid with iTunes cards, money orders or prepaid debit cards.
How to avoid it: The best thing you can do to protect yourself is to take away the opportunity. If someone unexpectedly calls claiming to be from the IRS and uses threatening language if you do not pay immediately, that is a sign that it is not the IRS calling, and your cue to hang up. They will call back sadly!
Don’t even think of having fun with them, unless you want to confirm the number they are calling you from. Then, why waste your time–just hang up again–and feel good that you did. Now we have been notified that the NYPD would like to know about these calls and phone numbers so you should contact your local police office if you do receive one.
Please join us for our next issue where we hope to cover some of the others above. If you would like a complete listing of answers, please feel free to join us on our new Facebook business page;
www.facebook.com/iwantmytaxmoney.
Anthony Rivieccio is the founder and CEO of The Financial Advisors Group, celebrating its 20th year as a fee-only financial planning firm specializing in solving ones financial problems. Mr. Rivieccio, a recognized financial expert since 1986, has been featured by many national and local media including: Klipingers Personal Finance, The New York Post, News 12 The Bronx, Bloomberg News Radio, BronxNet, the Norwood News, The West Side Manhattan Gazette, Labor Press Magazine, Financial Planning Magazine, WINS 1010 Radio, The Bronx News, and The Bronx Chronicle. Mr Rivieccio is also currently an Adjunct Professor of Business , Finance & Accounting for both, City University of New York & Monroe College, a Private University. For financial assistance or a FREE BOOK ON : TAX SCAMMERS- HOW TO AVOID THEM, please feel free to give us a call. Anthony can be reached at (347) 575-5045.
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