Some people had questions about the nuances of their tax situation or about navigating the IRS payment information site.
Could I help them find it?
But the requests filed in.
And many of them included information that could put the emailers identities at risk.
First it was the last four digits of someones Social Security number along with their full legal name.
Then someone who had previously emailed me called me, leaving their full Social Security number on my voicemail.
And it scared me.
Dont even say it out loud if you’ve got the option to avoid it.
In fact, the age group most affected bymonetary losses due to fraudis the 30-39 range.
But the older victims are, the greater their monetary losses tend to be.
Huddleston said that can alienate and embarrass your parents or older adults.
You could share an article youve read about a current scam or a report you heard on TV.
Instead, help them come up with a sentence they can use to end a call without feeling bad.
And sometimes, you let your guard down without thinking and find yourself in vulnerable circumstanceslike my emailers.
Heres the very least you’re gonna wanna remember to keep your identity safe.
Learn it, live it, love it:
TheIRS never calls askingfor your Social Security number.
The IRS rarely calls at all, and prefers snail mail.
The Social Security Administrationdoesnt call youasking for your number.
They already have it.
For example: Your doctors office ask you to upload a photo of your ID to their patient portal?
But you shouldnt just send them an email with the image attached.
Dont volunteer your SSN to anyone unless youre absolutelysurethey need it to provide the services you have requested.
Dont be afraid to ask if you’re able to provide an alternate way to verify your identity.
Dont select linkstextedoremailedby people you dont know, or from people claiming to be from government agencies.
