Stay Alert and Aware

 
         Now is the time of year when online shopping kicks into full swing. Add to that the upcoming tax filing season and it is a prime target for criminals to take advantage of what they see as opportunities. Here are some good practices that individuals and business can put into effect to help protect themselves.
          Scams against employers. Businesses can and have had their identities stolen. They need to protect their Employer Identification Number (EIN), just like a person must protect their Social Security Number (SSN). For this coming year, the IRS will be asking for extra information to verify that a Tax Return for a business is true. A trusted Qualified Tax Professional can guide a business through this more detailed process.
          Avoiding phishing emails. These types of messages take on a variety of forms and have different features, but in the end they all have the same goal. There are common patterns that can be recognized. These scams target businesses and individuals, and will use suspicious links or attachments to try and steal sensitive data. With some training, we can learn to avoid these traps. At Anthony Sykes & Co, the security of your information is always our priority.



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