Black Friday is over. Millions of people across the country crammed into stores to shop for the best deals. However, you should be aware that criminals take advantage of this shopping holiday to commit widespread identity theft. You may even remember the massive Black Friday data breach that occurred at Target stores in 2013. Hackers stole credit and debit card information from 40 million Target shoppers. Identity theft can destroy your finances. Your credit scores could suffer. You may be unable to access new credit until the issue is resolved. It could take months or even years to repair the damage. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect yourself from identity theft. Monitor your credit reports You should be regularly monitoring the information on your credit reports to spot instances of identity theft. Warning signs can include unfamiliar accounts and credit inquiries on your reports. You can obtain…
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Our blog recently discussed where to find free tax preparation services in Kansas City. However, much more can be said about why you should prepare to file your taxes early. Thousands of Americans have their tax refunds stolen by cybercriminals each year. Cybercriminals will file fraudulent tax returns after stealing the Social Security numbers and other identifying information from victims. Refunds are typically stolen during the beginning of tax season. Filers are less likely to notice the theft until they e-file weeks or months later. If you are affected by tax refund fraud, then the IRS will send you a notice in the mail. This notice will inform you that a return has already been filed in your name. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), you can reduce the chances of having your refund stolen by filing your taxes as soon as you have the necessary information and paperwork….
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Identity thieves are very active during the holidays and tax season. There are more opportunities to steal information from consumers. If you fall victim to identity theft, cybercriminals could cause significant damage to your finances. It is important to remain vigilant of identity theft during this time of year. You may reduce the chances of identity theft with these five tips, most of which came from the IRS. Beware of phishing scams: A phishing scam is where identity thieves try to trick you into giving up personal information. Cyber criminals posing as banks, friends, coworkers, retailers or government agencies may ask for your information through emails, text messages or phone calls. Phishing emails may try to trick you into opening attachments or links that install malware on your computer. The IRS warns against providing personal information unless you are the one who has initiated contact. Avoid using unsecured internet connections:…
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