New IRS imposter scam targets college students and staff

by Scott Muniz | Apr 5, 2021 | Security

This article was originally posted by the FTC. See the original article here.

If you’re a college student, faculty, or staff member, you’re going to want to pay attention to this one. IRS imposters are sending phishing emails to people with “.edu” email addresses, saying they have information about your “tax refund payment.” What do they really want? Your personal information.

Scammers are sending emails with subject lines like, “Tax Refund Payment” or “Recalculation of your tax refund payment.” The email asks you to click a link and submit a form to claim your “refund.”

What happens if you click the link? The website asks for personal information, including your name, Social Security number (SSN), date of birth, prior year’s annual gross income (AGI), driver’s license number, address, and electronic filing PIN. Scammers can use or sell this information for identity theft.

The emails can look really real and include the IRS logo. But no matter what the email looks like or says, one thing stays true: the IRS will not first contact you by email. They will always start by sending you a letter. And, to confirm that it’s really the IRS, you can call them directly at 800-829-1040.

If you clicked a link in one of these emails and shared personal information, file a report at IdentityTheft.gov to get a customized recovery plan based on what information you shared.

If you spotted this scam, the IRS is asking you to forward the email as an attachment to phishing@irs.gov. And tell us too, at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Looking to find the status of your pending refund? Go to Where’s My Refund on IRS.gov.

Brought to you by Dr. Ware, Microsoft Office 365 Silver Partner, Charleston SC.

The pandemic’s effect on your money

by Scott Muniz | Apr 5, 2021 | Security

This article was originally posted by the FTC. See the original article here.

This April is Financial Literacy Month, so this week we’re talking about financial resiliency. The Coronavirus has been devastating for many people’s financial lives. Through no fault of their own, millions have lost jobs, businesses, and savings due to the financial impact of the pandemic. Many folks are simply trying to decide how to put food on the table and keep their housing. Some, who were able to keep their jobs, are hanging in there. And others are somewhere in between.

Over the next five days, we’ll talk about some back-to-basics steps for anyone looking ahead toward financial recovery. We’ll talk about managing debt, avoiding payment scams, checking your credit, and spotting job scams. As we work to get our lives back to normal, it’s more important than ever to look out for each other, our family, friends, and neighbors. So, when you spot a scam, report it to the FTC. And then tell those around you about it so they can protect themselves.

Also, check out and share this video about why to report scams.

We hope you’ll stay tuned this week for some practical ideas you can share with your family, friends, and community. Share this blog, the video, and follow along on social media at #FinancialLiteracyMonth.

Brought to you by Dr. Ware, Microsoft Office 365 Silver Partner, Charleston SC.

Prepare for severe spring weather with tips you can share

by Scott Muniz | Apr 2, 2021 | Security

This article was originally posted by the FTC. See the original article here.

According to the National Weather Service, the peak severe weather season is during the spring months of March, April, and May. Already this season, we’ve seen heavy rains, flooding, and tornados in southern areas like Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and East Texas. And we know that scammers follow not just the headlines, but also the storm fronts.

Handling post-disaster scammers is never easy. And getting ready for the severe weather that’s sure to come can be a challenge. But both are even harder due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit the FTC’s site, Dealing with Weather Emergencies, to start planning your response. You’ll find ideas about how to:

Share these tips with friends, family, and community organizations by getting a free one-page customizable handout at Picking Up the Pieces after a Disaster. Add your local consumer protection and emergency service contacts and post copies for people to download.

If you or anyone you know needs to report a disaster-related scam, visit Reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Brought to you by Dr. Ware, Microsoft Office 365 Silver Partner, Charleston SC.