Beware bogus debt collection and IRS phone calls

After an 8-month sabbatical that took me to a new job in a new state, I'm back to my blog. And guess what?! It's tax fraud season again! A few things to know:

• If a debt collector calls you, hang up. 
• File your taxes early, before an impersonator does it for you.
• If the IRS calls you, hang up. Remember that the IRS will never phone you asking for money. 

Always beware of fake "debt collectors," fake "attorneys" claiming to be helping a loved one in jail, fake government agency representatives, or anyone calling you for money. It's also not a bad idea to screen incoming calls and don't answer numbers you don't recognize. Legitimate callers will leave a message.

​For more information on this new debt collection scam that goes after your IRS refund, see Brian Krebs' blog posting IRS Scam Leverages Hacked Tax Preparers, Client Bank Accounts at
https://krebsonsecurity.com/2018/02/irs-scam-leverages-hacked-tax-preparers-client-bank-accounts/.