Learn how to avoid common scams that can be prevalent during tax season.
Tax-related scams have become increasingly common. And with the tax deadline extended again this year, they can be something that can occur year-round. Fraudsters will contact you pretending to be from the IRS or other tax-related agency. You could receive fake emails, phone calls, letters or other forms of communications.
Be on high alert for phishing emails, attempting to steal information like tax IDs, account information, passwords and other valuable data. Be immediately suspicious of any unsolicited communication that asks for your Social Security number, login credentials or other personal information.
FAQs
Q. Will the IRS contact me via email?
A. The IRS will never initiate contact with you via email, text messages or social media with a request for personal or financidal data. Be extremely careful with any unsolicited email that claims to be from the IRS.
Q. What should I do if I receive an email or text message claiming to be from the IRS or another tax service that asks for sensitive information?
A. Do not reply. Do not click on any links or download any attachments. If it comes to your RJ email address, forward the email to cyberthreat@raymondjames.com and then delete the original message without responding. You can also forward any IRS-related emails received on your personal email to phishing@irs.gov.
Q. What should I do if I discover a website claiming to be the IRS that I suspect is not legitimate?
A. Do not click any links, download any files or submit any information. Send the URL to phishing@irs.gov.
Q. Are there any trusted resources I can use to identify email scams or websites claiming to be the IRS?
A. The IRS website highlights examples of email scams and bogus websites. Find this information online at www.irs.gov/uac/report-phishing.
Q. What should I do if I receive an unsolicited phone call or letter claiming to be from the IRS that I suspect may not be legitimate?
A. Contact the IRS yourself to confirm any requests made via phone or letter, particularly those that are threatening or demand immediate payment. Visit www.irs.gov/uac/report-phishing for phone numbers and other tips.
Q. If I receive a suspicious tax-related email while at work, should I notify Raymond James?
A. Yes, forward the email to cyberthreat@raymondjames.com to help determine if the message is legitimate.
Q. How can I safely send sensitive information when necessary?
A. There may be some scenarios where it’s necessary to send sensitive documents to others, like your accountant. First verify that the person requesting the information is legitimate (i.e. official phone number). Then make sure your emails are encrypted – if sharing through your RJ email, type [protect] in the subject line; if sharing through your personal email, you can reference this resource.