Protect yourself from tax season scams
It is tax season, time to be on high alert for email and phone phishing scams. Each year people lose their personal information and their money to these scams, particularly during tax season.
Although a number of emails are flagged for phishing by Google, some suspicious messages have the potential to circumvent filters.
Phishing scams this time of year include:
- Targeting email addresses that end in “.edu” across all higher education institutions.
- Posing as IRS agents and making aggressive calls in hopes of stealing taxpayer money or personal information
- Asking users to click a link and provide personal information such as Social Security Number, Date of Birth, and more in order to claim their refund. Never click on these types of links or provide personal information.
Do not become a phishing victim:
- The IRS, banks, or other institutions will never ask for personal information via email. If you are unsure about the content or validity of an email, do not respond to it. Forward the email to the Information Systems Security Team at infosec@wfu.edu for further analysis.
- Taxpayers who believe they may have provided identity thieves with this information should consider immediately obtaining an Identity Protection PIN.
- To check the status of a tax refund, go to “Where’s My Refund?” on IRS.gov.
Want to learn more about phishing and how to protect yourself?
- Visit Virus and Malware Removal Tools and Tips | AskDeac
- Connect with InfoSec and review Security Essentials
- Check out KnowBe4, a cybersecurity and phishing training platform that enhances awareness about emerging cybersecurity related issues
- View your Wake Forest email in the Gmail web interface or Gmail app on your mobile device to leverage warning banners across suspicious messages
Contact us at infosec@wfu.edu with your questions and concerns.