Don’t get stung by tax refund fraud: IRS warns taxpayers of 2020 schemes

The IRS has been working hard to eliminate tax fraud since 2015, but bad actors just find new ways to steal. 

Tax refund fraud costs the U.S. government millions of dollars a year. Thieves use stolen Social Security numbers, intimidation and fake tax collectors to try to get their hands on your money. 

How tax refund fraud works 

In this scheme, the bad actor creates a bogus tax return under a real person’s name and collects the refund. Then, when the legitimate person files his or her taxes, the IRS informs them that they already filed a return and that the refund is on its way, but sent to another mail address. 

IRS’s fight against tax refund fraud 

In 2015, after the big fraud scandal was revealed, the U.S. began an initiative to crack down identity theft, using a 16-character security code on W-2 tax forms. This private-public effort has been able to reduce tax refund fraud by two thirds, leaving just one third left. But when we talk about billion-dollar losses, one third is still more than any government can afford. 

To this year’s tax season equation, we have to add last year’s millions of stolen records. Bad actors today have more data, more sophisticated software and, more greed than ever before. 

One solution? Easy. File your taxes early to avoid scams. But we all know that’s not going to happen. If you are like 21.5 million Americans in 2017, you will file your taxes at the last minute, rushing to dig out receipts from your stacks of papers. 

The IRS is adding security measures, such as the 16-character code. However, they are adding layers of security that are based on static data which, although harder to access by a bad actor, could still be stolen. 

To protect your identity, IRS can benefit from authentication solutions that include behavioral evaluation. This way, even if your data is stolen, the bad actor won’t be able to replicate your behavior and will be locked out. 

How you can protect yourself 

Your security doesn’t only depend on the IRS. There are many things that you, as a taxpayer, can do to protect yourself from fraud this season: 

1. Just because someone on the phone says they are from the IRS, doesn’t mean it’s true 

It’s very easy to pick up the phone, make a call, and say “I am Andrew Turner from the IRS Collections Department and you owe us money.” They can be very pushy – and even threaten you with jail time – as we see on a transcript of a call from an IRS scam, but that pressure is also the red flag that should warn you. 

Be paranoid-level suspicious when someone calls you and says the word “IRS.” Ask them their name, last name, and employee number, and check those with the IRS before you answer any questions. Or simply hang up and call IRS’s secure number. 

In 2019, IRS found a growing number of the fraudsters leaving messages claiming to be able to suspend a person’s SSN for an unpaid bill. When they return the call, they are asked for a number of personal details. The IRS will never call demanding immediate payment with a credit card, ask you to pay an entity other than the U.S. Treasury, or threaten to have you arrested. 

2. Scammers can also appear at your doorstep 

Don’t be impressed by someone showing up at your door flashing a badge – these days anyone can get nice badges on Amazon. Even if it’s cold and rainy and your generous-self wants to offer your visitor a warm cup of tea, close the door and check your IRS account online or through a phone number you trust. 

3. Phishing is another common technique used during tax season 

Phishing emails can be uncannily similar, and scammers can even include data from your own account. Do not click on a link from any email, and do not answer the questions or call the number provided. Best practice is to ignore it. If you have doubts, check your account online or use the IRS site to contact them. 

The IRS has seen it all and has a prepared a site with what you need to be looking out for. 

If you receive an unusual communication, inform the – legitimate – IRS about it so they can keep track of the schemes fraudsters are using this year. This will help you and the rest of taxpayers stay protected from future tax schemes. 

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Related to this post: Should Americans Be More Scared of Fraud Than Terrorism? 

Want to learn more about biometric authentication? Download our co-sponsored Aite Group report, Biometrics: The Time Has Come. 

Want to read more posts like this? See our full blog here.