{"id":16403,"date":"2016-08-24T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-08-24T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/getirshelp.com\/blog\/check-out-these-tips-to-protect-yourself-from-an-irs-tax-scams\/"},"modified":"2026-07-27T15:16:37","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T15:16:37","slug":"check-out-these-tips-to-protect-yourself-from-an-irs-tax-scams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/getirshelp.com\/blog\/check-out-these-tips-to-protect-yourself-from-an-irs-tax-scams\/","title":{"rendered":"Check Out These Tips to Protect Yourself from IRS Tax Scams"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>I hear from people every week who think their tax problem is the end of the world. It usually isn&#039;t. I&#039;m Darrin Mish. I&#039;ve resolved over $100 million in tax debt for clients. Here&#039;s what you should know.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m Darrin T. Mish, and I work with clients to help them resolve IRS issues. Taxes are my job and life, and while the people who live and breathe tax issues are few and far in between, it\u2019s my life and career. IRS tax scams have cost the nation billions of dollars. \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/getirshelp.com\/blog\/category\/irs-help\/\">Click here to read or watch more IRS Help resources.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Even if you haven\u2019t been scammed, the chances are you know someone who has. What you learn today can help anyone to be on the lookout, and to know what course to take if the unthinkable happens. \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/getirshelp.com\/blog\/law-offices-darrin-t-mish-p-tax-attorney\/irs-back-taxes\/\">Click here to watch or read more information on IRS Back Taxes.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The truth is, every day of the year is open season for scammers. The fact that social media is so prominent in people\u2019s lives increases their knowledge of how and when scams occur. On the other hand, there\u2019s always that possibility IRS tax scams are hatched because people are so comfortable sharing personal information online.<\/p>\n<h1><strong>Where IRS Tax Scams Begin<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>IRS tax scams\u00a0usually start with someone\u2019s Social Security number. Social Security numbers have been used more and more by private companies for numerous reasons. And in today\u2019s world, you can never tell when online security has been breached.<\/p>\n<h2>Here&#8217;s as video with 6 tips to protect yourself from IRS Scams and Tax Fraud<\/h2>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Y8B066p41do?enablejsapi=1\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>In fact, infants can no longer be released from the hospital without having a Social Security number. No doubt it\u2019s interesting why the government wants this identification to take place so quickly.<\/p>\n<p>Getting back to social media, a lot of people offer their date of birth, even their address in some instances. All a thief needs is your Social Security number to steal your identity. Theft happens, and the thief is long gone before the victim is even aware.<\/p>\n<p>If you frequent places like Facebook, you may want to use your business address. Consider the fact there are people highly skilled in searching public records online. Often, the information they need is right there at their fingertips within 30 seconds. It\u2019s harder to steal a business identity than it is to steal a personal identity. At some point, the government may have to come up with additional security measures.<\/p>\n<h1><strong>PINs to Prevent Identity Theft?<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>Numerous people get their personal information hijacked, and are assigned a PIN number afterward. It may just end up that the government will issue a PIN to everyone. That would allow a person to log into their own Social Security account somewhere and change their PIN number whenever they choose. Consider the following tips.<\/p>\n<h3>#1. Guard your personal information and be careful when and where you give it out.<\/h3>\n<p>Be cognizant that social media is a helpful tool, but that it can be used against you if you\u2019re not careful.<\/p>\n<h3>#2. Be aware of where you\u2019re logging onto the Internet.<\/h3>\n<p>Wi-fi is all over the place, but you have to be careful where you access it. Thieves can get into your computer by setting up fake hotspots. If you\u2019re doing sensitive stuff on your computer, phone, or device, information could be intercepted.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ve entered a point in time where there\u2019s simply too much information on phones and computers.\u00a0<span style=\"line-height: 1.5;\">The whole point of this conversation is to help make people aware that all someone needs is your name, Social Security number, and address to file a tax return in your name or to abuse your good credit.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>#3. Protect your computer.<\/h3>\n<p>Protecting your computer should be a top priority. It\u2019s almost impossible to conduct business without it. This includes any smart device used to access the Internet.<\/p>\n<p>Make sure your computer\u2019s firewall is always turned on. It\u2019s also a good idea to install an effective antivirus program, which can help detect and prevent intrusions from Trojan viruses and various malware.<\/p>\n<p>The right software protection program will also help you block malicious spyware. These are viruses that collect information about you. While spyware isn\u2019t generally considered dangerous, it can contain harmful viruses. There are numerous programs on the market that can help keep your computer safe.<\/p>\n<p>Keep on top of operating system updates. If it\u2019s something you don&#8217;t understand, hire someone who can do it for you. These updates are also referred to as patches or fixes. Thieves are always trying to find holes in the Windows OS environment. Getting automatic updates will help ensure that your system is up to date.<\/p>\n<p>I can\u2019t stress enough about how important it is to protect your password. Use a string of characters, and include upper and lower case letters, numbers, and non-alphabetic characters. You should also change your passwords frequently. Do this at least once a month. Encryption is also a wise idea. This makes it virtually impossible for anyone to steal and interpret your information.<\/p>\n<h3>#4. Secure your personal information.<\/h3>\n<p>Always keep your personal records in a safe and secure place in your home or office. Your safe place should be well out of the way of visitors or clients. You can also limit the amount of personal information that you carry.<\/p>\n<p>When out and about, take only the credit, debit, and identification cards that you really need. There\u2019s really no reason to take your social security card with you. Leave it at home where it will remain safe.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re on Medicare, make a copy of your documents and block out the last four digits if your Social Security number shows. Before sharing personal information with any business, ask how they will use it, and if it will be shared.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll also want to know how the information will be safeguarded. It\u2019s your information, and you have the right to inquire. Invest in an effective shredder to dispose of credit card receipts, offers, applications, typical insurance forms, check, statements from the bank, and any document that contains personal information.<\/p>\n<p>If you have old prescription bottles, destroy the labels before you toss any empty bottles. This is where old-school identity thieves can retrieve a ton of information. If you\u2019re planning on being away from home on an extended leave, request a vacation on your mail from the post office. Remember, identity thieves never take a vacation.<\/p>\n<h3>#5. Always be skeptical.<\/h3>\n<p>You\u2019re going to receive a million offers during a lifetime. Someone is always trying to push or sell a new product. Online, everyone\u2019s goal is to build a mailing list, so they\u2019re going to try and capture your email address anyway they can.<\/p>\n<h3>#6. Always be aware of the next step if your personal information has been compromised.<\/h3>\n<p>First, place a fraud alert on your credit reports. This lets creditors and lenders know they should be extra careful if your name pops up for a loan.<a href=\"https:\/\/getirshelp.com\/blog\/tag\/tax-identity-theft\/\"> Second, contact institutions directly affected by your identity theft.<\/a> Third, contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). You can choose to file your report online, or you can call toll-free at 1-877-ID THEFT (877-438-4338).<\/p>\n<h1><strong>The First Person That Files!<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>The way the IRS operates is that the first person who files is, basically, the one who gets the refund. Unfortunately, IRS fraud is committed in areas where police point the finger at other police in a different state. Then, it becomes an FBI matter which may not rank at the top of their priority list for solving crimes.<\/p>\n<p>Even the IRS may be reluctant to prosecute if it appears to be too complicated of a matter. The \u201cbuck\u201d simply gets passed around.<\/p>\n<h1><strong>The Real Scope of Identify Theft<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>Identity theft is one of the most prevalent forms of white-collar crime in the United States. Each year, 10 million people may become victims. There are always things you can do to protect yourself, like the following:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Subscribe to an identity theft protection service<\/li>\n<li>Always keep your documents in a safe place<\/li>\n<li>Never let your wallet or purse out of your site<\/li>\n<li>Keep tabs on your bank account statements<\/li>\n<li>Remove yourself from promotional lists<\/li>\n<li>Cancel any credit cards that you\u2019re not using<\/li>\n<li>Always select passwords that would be difficult for others to fathom<\/li>\n<li>Monitor your credit<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>I\u2019m an expert at helping people with their taxes, and I always stress how important it is to avoid any unnecessary headaches. Unfortunately, IRS tax scams and fraud are an everyday part of life. Let\u2019s just say that it\u2019s a part of human nature to take shortcuts. And as long as people think they can get away with theft, they\u2019ll continue to look for their next victim.<\/p>\n<p>Just be aware of the fact that the IRS doesn\u2019t use email. And they don\u2019t randomly call anyone over the phone. They won\u2019t solicit any personal information either.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s a lot of good information here to digest. Just stay on top of things and you\u2019ll survive the day.<\/p>\n<p>I recorded a podcast on this topic, you can find it <a href=\"http:\/\/getirshelp.com\/6-tips-to-protect-yourself-from-irs-scams-and-tax-fraud\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">here<\/a> if you are interested in learning more about tax fraud and irs tax scams.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I hear from people every week who think their tax problem is the end of the world. It usually isn&#039;t. I&#039;m Darrin Mish. I&#039;ve resolved over $100 million in tax debt for clients. Here&#039;s what you should know. I\u2019m Darrin T. Mish, and I work with clients to help them resolve IRS issues. Taxes are [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[593],"class_list":["post-16403","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-irs-help","tag-tax-identity-theft"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/getirshelp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16403","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/getirshelp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/getirshelp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/getirshelp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/getirshelp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16403"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/getirshelp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16403\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22816,"href":"https:\/\/getirshelp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16403\/revisions\/22816"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/getirshelp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16403"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/getirshelp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16403"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/getirshelp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16403"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}