Online Scams Target Customers This Tax Season

Consumers need to safeguard personal information and know the warning signs online.

Salem-News.com

(NEW YORK) - The International Trademark Association (INTA) today alerted consumers to several electronic scams targeting taxpayers and offered tips for protecting personal information online during the 2007 tax filing season.

Currently, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is reporting several electronic scams that are targeting people as they prepare to file their taxes online. These scams include fraudulent emails that read "Audit Alert," "Changes to Tax Law” and "Refund." The success of these schemes relies on the goodwill and recognition that the public associates with a trademark, and criminals use this to lure consumers to their Web sites.

This tax season, consumers should:

1. Use a search engine when looking for government and commercial Web sites.
2. Avoid typing Web destinations directly into their Internet browser’s address bar.
3. Purchase genuine tax prep software from an authorized retailer if planning to self-prepare.
4. Carefully read any emails that solicit personal and financial information.
5. Report any suspicious emails or phone calls to phishing@irs.gov.
6. Educate themselves against potential risks by visiting "How to Protect Yourself from Suspicious E-Mails or Phishing Schemes."
7. Verify the ownership of a Web site using the Whois database. Start at internic.com.

"As more consumers turn to tax prep software and e-filing for their taxes, we want people to understand that there is a real potential for fraudulent attacks when bringing personal information to the Internet. We recommend using a trusted brand of tax software, and knowing the warning signs of potentially harmful Web sites and emails looking to take advantage of consumers during this time of the year," said INTA Executive Director, Alan Drewsen.

Quick facts noted by the IRS about the increasing online tax filing trend:

* 140 million people visited the Web site www.irs.gov last year.

* 22 million people prepared their own tax returns and filed electronically in 2007.

* 96 million refunds averaging $2,255 were issued by the IRS last year

To learn more about the importance of trademarks, please visit inta.org/media/center