Individual Cybersecurity
Protect Yourself from Common Tax Scams
Individual Cybersecurity
Protect Yourself from Common Tax Scams
It’s that time of year again. The time that reminds us of the two certainties of life. You guessed it: tax season. Sure tax season brings a long list of to-do’s and can even be on the stressful side. But it could be even worse if you fall victim to a tax scam. During tax season, many scammers ramp up their attacks by pretending to be from the IRS or an accounting agency offering services. (As if we don’t have enough to worry about, right?).
Here are some quick tips to keep yourself cyber safe and avoid tax scams:
Leverage the IRS and FTC which offer sources pertaining to tax scams and steps you can take if you are affected at: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/how-do-you-report-suspected-tax-fraud-activity and https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/tax-related-identity-theft#_Dealing_With_Tax-Related
If you suspect you have clicked on a suspicious link or entered information at a suspicious site related to your taxes, as a precautionary step, change your passwords on your accounts with sensitive data (e.g., banking, credit card, brokerage) and monitor any financial accounts closely.
And stay cyber safe!
To report suspicious activity on your Union Bank account (ATM/Debit, Check Fraud):
Call 800-238-4486 Monday-Friday: 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PST
Saturday: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PST
Sunday: Closed
To report suspicious activity on your credit card:
Consumer: 888-642-3311
Business: 888-643-9800
Available 24/7