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Protect Yourself from Tax Refund Scammers

Although tax filing season has been officially open only since Jan. 29, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is warning that reports of refund scams are already skyrocketing. Here’s an overview of the most common type of scam and tips to avoid becoming a victim. The Scam Hackers steal current data from tax returns, which also might include Social Security numbers and bank account information, from infected computer hardware. Using this stolen data, the cybercrooks file fraudulent claims on behalf of the victimized taxpayer. Refund payments are made to these innocent victims – often via direct deposit to their banking accounts. At this point, the scammers might pose as IRS agents and call the unwitting victims to demand return of the refunds. Sometimes the call is a recording accusing the taxpayer of fraud and threatening arrest and other scary consequences........