How To Stay Safe During 2016 Tax Season!

Tax Season can be a extremely stressful time. To insure smooth sailing during this tax season follow these steps to insure safety.

Using the following seven tips will greatly reduce your exposure to identity theft and phishing attacks, both of which seek to gain access to your families’ information:

1. Protect your password. Many of us use the same sign-on and password over and over for our online accounts. This is why phishing scams, which often seek password information, are so successful.
2. Perform deep security scans on your computer drives before filing your tax forms. Already in 2016, the IRS is seeing multiple email phishing scams – some posing as the IRS – targeting tax preparers.
3. Keep your tax records secure. If you’re still keeping old tax returns and receipts stuffed in a shoe box stuck in the back of the closet, you might want to rethink that approach..
4. Less is More; Check Default Settings. Privacy is not the default setting on social sites, which typically make most of your information widely accessible unless you specify otherwise. Change the settings to the privacy level you feel comfortable with. Also, do not share too much – just because a form has blanks, it doesn’t mean you have to provide that information.
5. Protect your Device (PC, Mac, Tablet & Phone). Keep security software on your devices, and keep it updated. Think of it like locking your home’s doors and windows to protect everything inside. Activate auto-locking on your phone, requiring passwords.
6. When Free Wi-Fi Costs. Criminals set-up look-a-like hotspots to eavesdrop on unprotected data, and capture user passwords. Consider using a virtual private network (VPN) or tether your computer to your mobile device.

Other Things to Keep in Mind:

The IRS Does Not Call. A common scam involves a fraudster calling, claiming to be the IRS and asserting the taxpayer owes money and must pay immediately. The IRS never asks for personal or financial information by email, phone, text or social media nor does it ever call to demand payment. Cyber criminals have learned how to spoof phone caller ID to display “Internal Revenue Service.” Report suspicious calls to the IRS at 1-800-366-4484.

The IRS Does Not Email; Block Spoofed & Forged Email – Be Skeptical. Do not respond to an unsolicited email that requests your private or sensitive information or asks you to click on a link.

Call My Computer Works if you are unsure on how to follow or do any of these steps by yourself. The technicians at this company are patient and polite and will help you any technical issues that you are having. Stay safe on the internet and insure safety at all time with a trustworthy tech support company.