DSEF & CBBB: Watch Out for Common Tax Scams

DSEF & CBBB: Watch Out for Common Tax Scams

Today’s highlighted blog post from the Council on Better Business Bureaus (CBBB):

Watch Out for Common Tax Scams

By Holly Doering

When I moved to Washington State from Idaho, I spent some time at the public library searching for state income tax forms. There weren’t any. Another patron told me that Washington State doesn’t have an income tax. I didn’t believe it at first, but it turned out to be true.

A friend of mine at the time told me his parents didn’t pay federal income tax, because the IRS was actually illegal according to the U.S. Constitution, and would be out of business soon. This turned out not to be true, and his parents are in big trouble. The “frivolous argument” is actually one of the IRS’s listed “Dirty Dozen Tax Scams” to watch out for. You can learn more about it, and other scams, at the IRS newsroom.

According to IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman, “Tax scams…may look tempting, but these fraudulent deals end up hurting people who participate in them.” The IRS and the Justice Department work together to shut down these illegal operations. Taxpayers who knowingly or unwittingly get involved must repay all taxes due plus interest and penalties.

Around tax time, thousands of emails, faxes, and phone calls begin circulating, claiming to be from the IRS. Know that the official IRS website ends in “.gov” for government only. Any IRS web address that does not begin with http://www.irs.govshould be forwarded to phishing@irs.gov. Also, if you believe your personal information has been stolen and used for tax purposes, you should immediately contact the IRS at 800-908-4490.

Something else to consider: While most tax return preparers are professionals who provide honest and excellent services to their clients, according to the IRS, some “make basic errors or engage in fraud and other illegal activities.” You can always Start with Trust by checking out a company’s track record at www.bbb.org.

To learn more about the Dirty Dozen Tax Scams of 2011, please click HERE.

DSEF and Council on Better Business Bureaus (CBBB) fosters honest and responsive relationships between businesses and consumers—instilling consumer confidence and advancing a trustworthy marketplace for all.

About the Better Business Bureaus
As the leader in advancing marketplace trust, Better Business Bureau is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Every year, more than 87 million consumers rely on BBB Business Reviews® and BBB Wise Giving Reports® to help them find trustworthy businesses and charities across North America. Visitwww.bbb.org/us for more information.

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DSEF & CBBB: Is It a Job or a Scam?

Today’s highlighted blog post from the Council on Better Business Bureaus (CBBB):

Is It a Job or a Scam?

By Carol Odell

Recently a friend called me about an employment ad on craigslist. She is retired and needs to supplement her income and fill some time with a part-time job. Not an unlikely scenario these days with the challenging economy and cost of living.

It’s also not unusual for some of these “employment opportunities” to be scams. My friend was calling about a work at home job where you send money to stuff envelopes for a company — and get paid. The reality is that it costs more money than you are being paid to accomplish the job. Here’s the real kicker, many times the mailings you are preparing are scams that are being mailed to potential victims!

Protect yourself and research the company with your BBB before engaging with the company. Any ethical company will provide information when requested. A company that will not answer basic questions or refuses to communicate any way other than email, may have something to hide.

The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) recently sent out information on another online employment scam. Here is what they sent out:

“The IC3 has recently received over 250 complaints reporting a new twist to the online employment scam. The scam involves individuals who responded to online ads or were contacted via e-mail as a result of their resume being posted on websites. The perpetrator posed as a research company and requested participants to complete a paid survey regarding services provided at wire transfer locations to improve the effectiveness of the company’s money-transfer services.”

Complainants were hired and then mailed a cashier’s check or money order. They were asked to cash a check/money order, keep a portion and wire the remaining amount via wire transfer. Victims are asked to send more information such as transfer number and amount wired, followed up by a questionnaire regarding the wire transfer. If not done, the victims receive threatening emails stating to respond in 24 hours or their information will be sent to FBI and they could face 25 years in jail.

Of course, after all this, the victims learn the checks are counterfeit and most victims now owe the bank more than $2,500.

If you need a job, make sure you are going to make money, not lose it. Paying an upfront fee is a huge red flag.

Do you have other tips?

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DSEF & CBBB: Take This ID Theft Quiz for National Consumer Protection Week

Today’s highlighted blog post from the Council on Better Business Bureaus (CBBB):

Take This ID Theft Quiz for National Consumer Protection Week

By Holly Doering

Hi everybody, and happy Monday. Depending on where you live, you might be celebrating Frozen Food Day, Mardi Gras, or If Pets Had Thumbs Day (at least according to an Internet list of “wacky holidays.”) But one thing everybody should be celebrating is our 14^th annual National Consumer Protection Week! Running through March 10, this holiday will shine a national spotlight on consumer safety in the U.S.

I thought it would be fun to take a little quiz on identity theft from the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse: Answer to see what your risk is. I myself scored 45—not bad, but I could do better.

___ I receive several offers of pre-approved credit every week. (5 points)

___ I do not shred the pre-approved credit offers I receive (cross-cut shredder preferred) before putting them in the trash. (5 points)

___ I carry my Social Security card in my wallet. (10 points)

___ I use a computer and do not have up-to-date anti-virus, anti-spyware, and firewall protection. (10 points)

___ I do not believe someone would break into my house to steal my personal information. (10 points)

___ I have not ordered a copy of my credit reports for at least 2 years. (20 points)

___ I use an unlocked, open box at work or at my home to drop off my outgoing mail. (10 points)

___ I do not have a P.O. Box or a locked, secured mailbox. (5 points)

___ I carry my military ID in my wallet at all times. (It may display my SSN.) (10 points)

___ I do not shred my banking and credit information, using a cross-cut “confetti” shredder, when I throw it in the trash. (10 points)

___ I throw away old credit and debit cards without shredding or cutting them up. (5 points)

___ I use an ATM machine and do not examine it for signs of tampering. (5 points)

___ I provide my Social Security number (SSN) whenever asked, without asking why it is needed and how it will be safeguarded. (10 points)

___ Add 5 points if you provide it orally without checking to see who might be listening nearby.

___ I respond to unsolicited email messages that appear to be from my bank or credit card company. (10 points)

___ I leave my purse or wallet in my car. (10 points)

___ I have my driver’s license number and/or SSN printed on my personal checks. (10 points)

___ I carry my Medicare card in my wallet at all times. (It displays my SSN.) (10 points)

___ I do not believe that people would root around in my trash looking for credit or financial information or for documents containing my SSN. (10 points)

___ I do not verify that all financial (credit card, debit card, checking) statements are accurate monthly. (10 points)

Ok, now tally up your points. Guess what? Each one of these questions represents a possible avenue for an identity thief. How did you do?

100 + points – Recent surveys* indicate that 8-9 million people are victims of ID theft each year. You are at high risk. We recommend you purchase a cross-cut paper shredder, become more security-aware in document handling, and start to question why people need your personal data.
50-99 points – Your odds of being victimized are about average.
0-49 points – Congratulations. You have a high “IQ.” Keep up the good work and don’t let your guard down now.

Remember, you cannot prevent identity theft. Criminals can commit identity theft relatively easily, but you can reduce your risk of fraud. One of the best things you can do is to check your 3 credit reports at least once a year. If you are a victim of identity theft, you will catch it early by checking your credit reports regularly. Your annual free credit reports are available from (877) 322-8228 or at www.annualcreditreport.com.

Over thirty different agencies are participating in providing great information for consumers this week, including the BBB, so check out National Consumer Protection Week information. Also, sign up for a daily tip from the BBB!

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DSEF & CBBB: Don’t Forget the Credit Card Convenience Fee When Charging Taxes

Today’s highlighted blog post from the Council on Better Business Bureaus (CBBB):

Don’t Forget the Credit Card Convenience Fee When Charging Taxes

BY VERONICA BROWN

If you plan to charge your income taxes to your credit card, remember to factor in the convenience fee, says lifehacker.

Many people often find that they actually owe the government money and will choose to charge it to their credit card. A convenience fee will be added, and it can add up. For instance, a fee of $9.40 will be added to a $400 tax bill, while $117.50 will be charged to a $5,000 tax bill. In addition, if the fee is not paid within the credit card issuer’s grace period, interest will be charged as well.

On the bright side, the IRS does have an installment-payment plan (which requires qualification).

To read the full article, visit http://lifehacker.com/5887248/what-to-know-if-youre-planning-on-charging-your-taxes-on-your-credit-card

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DSEF & CBBB: Panera offers Payment Optional Cafes

Today’s highlighted blog post from the Council on Better Business Bureaus (CBBB):

Panera offers Payment Optional Cafes

BY MEAGHAN POWERS

Panera along with other cafes churches and community groups across the country are opening pay-what-you-can cafes. The set-up of the Panera Cares Cafe offers suggested prices on its menu, having the customer pay that amount or as little or as much as they can, according to USA Today.

The Panera Cares Cafe in Dearborn Michigan has been running for a year and its success will keep Panera running its other Panera Cares Cafe locations and launching more in cities across the country. The cafe’s success relies on returning customers and who often come back because they realize it is helping their community. Most cafes break even with about 20% of customers giving more than the suggested price, 60% the suggested and 20% less or none, reports USA Today. To keep from abuse of the system, Panera suggests only one free meal a day, and for people to volunteer if they come many times each week.

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DSEF & CBBB: Pain at the Pump: Gas Climbs to $5 per Gallon

Today’s highlighted blog post from the Council on Better Business Bureaus (CBBB):

Pain at the Pump: Gas Climbs to $5 per Gallon

BY VERONICA BROWN – FEBRUARY 24, 2012

Get ready for gas prices to shoot through the roof. Many Americans may begin to pay $5 per gallon, reports USA Today.

The surge in prices comes from not only rising prices in oil, but also lower refining capacity, tensions in the Middle East, and also the fact that spectators are driving up the price. The price of gas this February is up 42 cents from last year, with a record high of $3.65 per gallon.

On average, gas currently costs $4.20 in California, and $3.91 in New York. These prices are expected to keep climbing. A Washington state refinery that recently suffered damage from a fire could drive up prices in the region even higher this weekend.

In reaction to increased pain at the pump, consumers have begun to cutback on their gas purchases. Consumption fell 1.4 percent through February 17th, amounting to about 18 million barrels a day. This is the lowest since April 1997.

To read the full article, visit http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/story/2012-02-22/gas-prices-average/53229358/1

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DSEF & CBBB: Help Prevent Your Facebook Account from Being Hacked in 3 Easy Steps

Today’s highlighted blog post from the Council on Better Business Bureaus (CBBB):

Help Prevent Your Facebook Account from Being Hacked in 3 Easy Steps

There are several quick steps you can take to avoid getting your Facebook account hacked. These include:

Make sure that your ‘Secure Browsing’ is enabled – That means your browser uses Https instead of the standard connection. How to change your setting: While on Facebook, look at your URL address in the browser. If you see “http:” instead of “https:” you DO NOT have a secure session. It’s easy to change. Just go to Account (upper right) click Account Settings… Then Security – click Change. Check box (secure browsing), click Save.
Regularly change your password – Get in the routine of changing your password often. Try to use a combinations of upper & lower case numbers/special characters and don’t use any parts of your first or last name.
Enable login notifications – Click on Account Settings … then Security … then enable login notifications. This will cause Facebook to notify you when your account is accessed from a computer or mobile device that you haven’t used before.

And finally, don’t click on suspicious links while browsing Facebook and never give your login info to anyone.

Blog / Teleseminar

DSEF & Money Wise Women: Learn to Say No: Adding Pause, Reflection and Focus to Your Life

Today’s highlighted post from Money Wi$e Women Get Smart Teleseminar Series (Click here):

Learn to Say No: Adding Pause, Reflection and Focus to Your Life

Women too often respond ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to demands by checking whether their calendar is free. Women need to start checking with their own goals to see if the request fits in.” — Jackie Farley, Ceo, CenterPoint. This applies to everyone — men and women. Our lives have taken on the speed of technology, amazingly unlimited opportunity, and “too muchness!” It’s time to step back and put life back into our lives. That includes pause, reflection and focus. Learn to make conscious choices to say no when necessary. Learn three tools to help you figure out what to say no to and how to actually say no. Here’s how.

Kathie Hightower

Kathie Hightower is an international speaker, author and writer working from her home office at the Oregon Coast. Author of Simple Joys: Little Things That Make a BIG Difference, the Jump Into Life Workbook, and frequent contributor to publications worldwide, Kathie does intensive, ongoing research for her writing and her seminars. Her focus is helping people pump up their energy, creativity and joy in life. A speaker and writer since 1990, Kathie has spoken to corporate, wellness, and military groups all over the United States, Europe, Japan and Korea. Kathie is also co-author of Help! I’m a Military Spouse —I Get a Life Too! soon to come out in a third edition. She has other books and a novel in the works.
www.jumpintolife.net
www.militaryspouse.com

DSEF proudly sponsors the free Money Wi$e Women Get Smart Teleseminar Series hosted by Marcia Brixey, Founder and President of Money Wise Women Educational Services and author ofThe Money Therapist: A Woman’s Guide to Creating a Healthy Financial Life. The series covers topics related to business and finances and provides women the opportunity to learn from professional experts in a safe, comfortable environment.

To find out about upcoming teleseminars, visit http://www.moneywisewomengetsmart.com/

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DSEF & FTC: “Gameover” Scam Target Bank Accounts

February 1st, 2012 by USA.gov

The FBI identified a new phishing scam online that targets your bank accounts. The scam is called “Gameover.” Once the virus is on your computer, it can steal all of your user names and passwords before you realize what has happened.

How It Works

The Gameover scam will email you, pretending to be from the National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA), the Federal Reserve Bank, or the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The email will say that there has been a problem with your bank account or a recent transaction, and will include a link to help fix the problem. The link will send you to a phony site, where the Gameover malware is automatically installed on your computer and starts stealing your bank account information.

If you think you’ve been victimized by this type of scheme, contact your financial institution to report it, and file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Learn more about the Gameover Scam.

For 13 years, the DSEF has been proud to partner with the FTC and other organizations to offer a wide array of education events and resources that encourage consumers nationwide to take full advantage of their rights and make better-informed decisions.

You’ll find a wealth of resources at www.ncpw.g ov that will help you protect your privacy, manage your money, learn more about credit and debt, decipher advertising messages, and steer clear of fraud and scams.

Please take a moment to share the resources on this Web site with others in your communities and companies and, together, we’ll help build a nation of better-informed and educated consumers.

Charles. L. Orr
Executive Director

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DSEF & CBBB: So Facebook Goes Public. So what?

Today’s highlighted blog post from the Council on Better Business Bureaus (CBBB):

What will it mean if Facebook, currently a private company, goes public this May or mid-2013, or at some other date predicted by pundits?

For investors, plenty. Experts disagree as to whether or not the high-priced stock will be worth it. Some think obscene wealth will be within reach; others think that the company may burst like a dot-com bubble. Remember the rules. Don’t invest more than you can afford to lose, investigate before you invest, and do your homework. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is a good resource for learning about the stock market.

For Facebook users? The Internet verdict (from blogs and news articles) is almost unanimous: Less privacy. According to an article in the L.A. Times, Facebook will most likely “step up its efforts to harvest its users’ information as it tries to meet Wall Street expectations.

“The richest IPO in history is all based on the harvesting and sale of users’ information,” [says Jeffrey]Chester, [Executive Director of the Center for Digital Democracy]. “The IPO makes clear that Facebook intends to further friend the most powerful advertisers on the planet, help them better target the vast social network audience.”

(Speaking of preferences, did you know that your friends’ “likes” influence yours? The U.K. Guardian states: “…if I “like” Whole Foods on Facebook, you, as my friend, are presumed to harbour a preference for organic food as well – hence you are more likely to see a Whole Foods advertisement when you log on.” My best friend and I must be skewing their system—we are complete opposites.)

A Little Bit of Background
As the company prepares to become an even bigger deal in our marketplace, here are three things you should know about Facebook.

First, where does the money come from? An article in PC World quotes the company’s SEC filing as listing “digital cows, crops, and mafia hit jobs” as large revenue streams for the company. “Social game maker Zynga was responsible for about 12 percent of Facebook’s [some reports say $3.71 billion] revenue in 2011.” If you’ve played Farmville, you’ve supported Zynga.

Second, who are Facebook’s current shareholders? The Washington Post lists companies like DST Global, Accel Partners, Goldman Sachs, and T. Rowe Price along with company executives and its board of directors (including the Post’s CEO Don Graham). Another famous shareholder is Erskine Bowles, a former White House Chief of Staff under President Bill Clinton. Facebook’s Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg owns 56.9 percent of the voting shares.

Third, who are FB’s major advertisers? According to the Huffington Post, the top five include AT&T, www.match.com, and Google. This January there was a bit of an imbroglio over an alleged scam site, but that has since been removed.

Final Thoughts

“When Facebook goes public it will be under increased scrutiny, held more accountable, and required to be more transparent,” says the Guardian. “But, at the same time, the need to maximise returns means the use of personal data is likely to increase, only raising privacy concerns.”

In November the company settled with the Federal Trade Commission over alleged “unfair and deceptive” practices of making public information that users thought was private.

All posts tagged consumer rights

DSEF & Money Wise Women: Learn to Say No: Adding Pause, Reflection and Focus to Your Life

DSEF & Money Wise Women: Learn to Say No: Adding Pause, Reflection and Focus to Your Life

Learn to Say No: Adding Pause, Reflection and Focus to Your Life

Kathie Hightower

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