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01/02/2018
BBB Trends: Keep your tax information safe from scammers; tax identity is largest segment of theft
Northern Kentucky Tribune
When consumers and business owners take their receipts in for tax filing season, they’re counting on the person preparing their taxes to keep their information safe. Tax preparers are bound by federal law to keep things confidential from cyber thieves, but despite their best efforts, tax identity theft still accounts for the largest segment of personal identity theft.
Scammers use a number of underhanded tactics to trick tax professionals into giving up important information. Regardless of the business’ size, scam artists use the same phishing emails, W-2 scams, and ransomware attacks in order to steal personal data.
In one of the most common schemes, con artists send emails to tax professionals – pretending to be from a legitimate tax software company – asking them to download and install supposedly updated software via an included link. If it’s clicked, the person unknowingly downloads a spyware software designed to record keystrokes on the computer they’re using. This is a common tactic used by cyber thieves in order to steal login details, passwords, and important information – not only about the tax preparer but about their clients as well.
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