Attorney General Chris Carr, Interim State Revenue Commissioner Frank O’Connell, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) are recognizing Jan. 30, through Feb. 3, 2023, as Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week by offering important tips on how to protect against identity theft and tax-related scams.
“During tax season, bad actors may use a stolen identity or pose as the IRS in an effort to steal your refund or get you to pay money you do not owe,” said Attorney General Chris Carr. “It is critically important that Georgia taxpayers take the necessary steps to protect their personal and financial information from potential thieves. Knowledge is key, and our Consumer Protection Division has put together a number of resources to help ensure your hard-earned dollars are kept safe and out of the hands of criminals.”
“The Department of Revenue’s mission to fairly and impartially administer Georgia’s tax laws means that we take every possible measure to guard against tax fraud,” said Interim State Revenue Commissioner Frank O’Connell. “Tax identity theft impacts the lives and livelihoods of Georgia filers and is a threat to our responsibility to be good stewards of taxpayer money.”
“Identity theft continues to be one of the top issues affecting Georgia consumers. BBB is proud to partner with Attorney General Carr and Commissioner O’Connell to keep Georgians informed and protected,” said Michele Mason of BBB.
Here’s what consumers need to know:
IRS Impersonation Scams
In this scam, fraudsters contact consumers by phone, purporting to be an IRS agent and claiming that the consumer owes the IRS money for back taxes. The scammer threatens arrest or legal action if the consumer does not immediately pay the money owed via wire transfer, gift cards or pre-paid debit card.
Consumers can easily be convinced that these calls are real as the scammer may know a consumer’s full or partial Social Security number (SSN) or even use spoofing software that…
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