scams | TaxConnections

05 Oct 2017

IRS Ransomware Scam – Keep Taxpayers Safe

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued an urgent warning about a new scheme targeting taxpayers. The scheme, which IRS Commissioner John Koskinen called “a new twist on an old scheme” involves a bogus email which impersonates the IRS and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as part of a ransomware scam to take computer data hostage.

The scam email uses the emblems of both the IRS and the FBI. The email urges recipients to click on a link to download a questionnaire allegedly from the FBI. The email implies that the questionnaire is required as part of changes in the law focused on tax compliance. The regs referenced in the email are bogus, and the link doesn’t click through to a questionnaire. Instead, the link downloads ransomware. Read More

Written by Lisa Nason | Posted in IRS

20 Sep 2016

Seven Individuals Sentenced To Prison For Online Fraud Scams

Seven defendants were sentenced for their roles in online fraud schemes involving counterfeit checks, “mystery shopper” websites and work-from-home scams. Funso Hassan, 27, of Ibadan, Nigeria, and Anthony Shane Jeffers, 44, of Maryville, Tennessee, each pleaded guilty on April 12, 2016, to one count of conspiracy to commit identity theft and theft of government property and one count of use of mail and an interstate facility to distribute proceeds of a racketeering activity.

Written by William Byrnes | Posted in International • Tax Fraud/Evasion/Crimes • United States

25 Aug 2016

Beware The “Federal Student Tax”

Scammers are currently targeting students and parents, posing as the IRS and calling to collect payment of the non-existent “Federal Student Tax.” Callers are demanding immediate payment and if refused, threaten to report the student to the police. As this is merely an attempt to separate you from your money, your best response is to hang up. There is no such tax, and the IRS does not utilize such collection methods.

Written by John Stancil | Posted in IRS • Tax Fraud/Evasion/Crimes

11 Jul 2016

Receiving Aggressive Calls From The Canada Revenue Agency?

Are the aggressive collection calls you have been getting from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) real? The short answer is NO. The calls are a scam. Please read on.

Written by Grant Gilmour | Posted in Canada • International • Tax Fraud/Evasion/Crimes

25 Sep 2014

Australian Tax Office’s Scammer Video

The Australian Taxation Office has a webpage dedicated to tax related scams. Their latest video advising taxpayer’s how to protect themselves against scam attempts can be seen below.

This is the Transcript of the ATO Video that can be seen below:

Your personal information, like your identity — is unique. You use it to verify who you are and to access things like bank accounts, loans and tax returns.

Protecting your personal information is important. But do you know what to protect?

Personal information includes your name, address, date of birth, credit card details, myGov details, tax file number and driver’s licence details. Read More