With the clock ticking down to the April 15 income tax filing deadline, New Yorkers are being put on high alert by Attorney General Kwame Raoul to safeguard their identities against a surge in tax-related theft. Dubbed the digital age's downside, Raoul underscored the pressing need for individuals to scrupulously safeguard their personal and financial details, especially when filling out tax forms online, saying, "Unfortunately, bad actors stand ready to take advantage of consumers during tax season."
Highlighting the urgency as the tax deadline looms, Raoul's message comes amid a spike in electronic deception and scam tax preparers who are out to bamboozle residents—emphasizing the importance of due diligence people need to thoroughly review documents before signing, and this includes a closer look at the often glossed-over electronic signatures that could be a scammer's portal to costly and unnecessary services, or worse, identity theft.
In a report by the Illinois Attorney General's website, Raoul outlined steps for consumers to bolster their defenses, including tight control over Social Security number dissemination, a meticulous approach in selecting tax preparers, and the importance of the Identity Protection PIN—a six-digit number designed to lock down the taxpayer's identity against fraudulent filings.
Furthermore, the dangers don't just lurk for taxpayers but also for tax professionals, who've been increasingly targeted by identity thieves—posing as new clients, only to slip malware onto preparers' systems, and once they're in, they have free rein over clients' sensitive data, stirring Raoul to urge tax pros to heed IRS guidelines for securing their network and client data.
Victims of these schemes or those who spot the scammers’ bait should swiftly report these red flags to authorities, with detailed instructions available on how and where to cast these alerts included on Raoul’s announcement. For those needing to file complaints against tax preparers or dispute tax anticipation products, Raoul has directed individuals to the Attorney General’s hotlines in Chicago, Springfield, and Carbondale for swift action.
