H&R Block: Protect against identity theft

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – As tax season rolls on, H&R Block recently released a checklist to help people protect against identity theft.

The IRS in 2013 identified 5.1 million fraudulent returns, and H&R Block estimates identity theft is a billion-dollar business.

“There is no fool-proof way to stop identity theft,” said Kathy Pickering, executive director of The Tax Institute at H&R Block. “The good news is that the number of new reports of identity theft by individuals who filed 2015 tax returns has fallen by more than 50 percent thanks to the IRS and the tax industry partnering to combat fraud.”

The consumer tax services provider, however, says more could be done and provides the following check list for consumers to consider.

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Protect personal information

  • Do not carry a social security card in a wallet.
  • Do not give out a social security number on the phone or in a public place.
  • Do not send a SSN or date of birth in an email or a text.
  • Do not share an online user ID, password or PIN with others. Do not leave this information anywhere someone else can easily see or gain access to it.
  • Avoid easily guessed or common names and numbers for passwords and PINs. Change passwords regularly and don’t use the same password for multiple accounts.
  • Close unused credit card accounts and destroy the credit card.
  • Use a shredder for documents containing personal information.
  • Use firewalls, anti-spam/virus software, and update security patches.
  • Look for the S in https, which means the site uses secure encryption technology.
  • Do not shop online on public Wi-Fi where information can be intercepted.
  • Request a copy of a credit report and keep tabs on who might be accessing it.
  • Review financial statements like credit card bills and bank statements for suspicious activity.

Beware of scams

  • Be aware of phishing and social engineering scams. Be suspicious of emails that ask for credentials. Do not provide personal information over the phone, via text, through the mail or on the internet.
  • The IRS will never email or connect on social media to request personal information.
  • The IRS will never call to demand immediate payment.
  • The IRS will never ask for credit or debit card information over the phone.
  • The IRS will never require specific payment methods.
  • The IRS will always contact taxpayers by mail first about taxes owed.
  • Report phone calls, emails or letters from IRS impersonators to the Treasury Department. Use its IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting Portal or call 800-366-4484.

Be Vigilant with taxes

  • File early to lessen the window of opportunity for a criminal to file first.
  • If using a tax preparer, ask what they do to protect tax return information.
  • Apply for additional IRS protections like the identity protection PIN.
  • Consider a product like the Tax Identity Shield.

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