Dirty Dozen 2020: Phishing

    The use of deceptive tactics, including fake emails, text messages, links, and websites, to gain personal information is called phishing. New phishing scams using pandemic related terms is one of the fastest growing scams according to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Remember that the IRS will never contact Taxpayers using Social Media or text message, and will never initiate contact through email.

    Many are anxious and seeking the latest news about how the COVID-19 pandemic will impact them, their business, and other financial matters. These new phishing schemes use terms like “coronavirus” and “stimulus” to draw in Taxpayers looking for answers to their questions. Please remember that the official term is Economic Impact Payment. Do not open strange emails, click on links, or open attachments from people you don’t know or that are unexpected. Criminals feel that everyone is a target and this is one of their tools.


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