Since last year’s tax filing season which saw a considerable amount of fraud, the IRS has been working hard to expand their efforts to better protect taxpayers and help any victims that took a hit. Even though stopping identity theft and refund fraud is on the top priority for the IRS, recent studies have shown that fraudulent behavior patterns are still on the rise. In this typically high-fraud season, is your company doing everything it can to protect consumers?
This year, identity theft once again tops the IRS “Dirty Dozen” list. Fraudsters are using personal information, such as Social Security Number (SSN) without permission to file a tax return and claim a refund. Other top scams that made the IRS’s list include:
To read all of the IRS’s Dirty Dozen Scams, click here.
While this list verifies that tax scams persist, overall, the IRS is working hard on preventing identity theft and fraud. By late 2012, the IRS assigned more than 3,000 IRS employees to work on identity theft-related issues and in the first three months of 2013, the IRS worked with victims to resolve and close more than 200,000 cases. However, fraudsters continue to grow and evolve – shifting tactics just as fast as they are exposed. As an organization operating in the customer-not-present environment, it is vital to do your part in protecting consumers from fraud. Here are just a few things to consider:
Visit www.IRS.gov for more information on tax scams.