NortonLifeLock Experts Warn Against COVID-Related Tax Phishing Scams
March 24 2021 - 8:00AM
Business Wire
With up to 60 new tax-related phishing sites
appearing each day, NortonLifeLock shares Cyber Safety tips
consumers can take to protect their personal and financial
information
On the heels of the IRS tax filing extension in the U.S.,
NortonLifeLock (NASDAQ: NLOK), a global leader in consumer Cyber
Safety, today alerted consumers to surging tax-related phishing
scams and shared Cyber Safety tips to help people stay ahead of
cybercriminals and more safely take advantage of the extended time
to file this season. While tax-related identity theft is an ongoing
threat year-round, NortonLifeLock experts expect to see an increase
this year due to the significant rise in unemployment benefits
fraud and COVID related tax refund phishing scams.
“We’re seeing up to 60 new tax-related phishing sites appear
each day,” said Darren Shou, head of technology for NortonLifeLock.
“Many of these sites may only be active for 24 hours, but in that
short span of time, attackers can use the information consumers
believed they were sharing with a legitimate site for tax fraud,
unemployment fraud, fake job hiring scams and other financial
crimes. This year, cybercriminals are also taking advantage of the
pandemic with COVID-related phishing scams, impersonating the IRS
with emails to consumers with the false promise of tax relief
payments that attempt to swindle people into providing their real
personal and financial information.”
With more than 57 million people in the U.S. filing for
unemployment between March and September 2020, identity thieves
have taken advantage of the overwhelming number of claims by using
personal information, such as a social security number or financial
account information, to file an income tax return and steal the tax
refund. According to the Department of Labor Inspector General, as
much as $60 billion in pandemic-related unemployment benefits are
fake.
NortonLifeLock recommends individuals take the following steps
to protect themselves:
- Avoid Suspicious Links and Emails: Criminals often
engage in phishing scams to get personal information like social
security numbers, mailing addresses or birthdates. Companies will
never ask for sensitive information through email, and the IRS
initiates most contact with taxpayers through U.S. mail. Consumers
should take extra steps to verify these forms of communication by
avoiding links or downloading attachments and confirming that the
website for a link is legitimate.
- Apply for an IP PIN: An Identity Protection Personal
Identification Number, better known as an IP PIN, is a six-digit
number assigned by the IRS that individuals can use to combat
tax-related identity theft. The IP PIN can be used when filing an
income-tax return to help prevent cyberthieves from filing false
returns.
- Report Identity Theft Immediately: If an individual
receives a 1099-G form for unemployment benefits they did not
receive, they should contact the issuing state agency to request a
revised 1099-G showing they did not receive these benefits. Next,
they should immediately complete IRS Form 14039 to report
fraudulent returns to the IRS and attach the document to their
physical tax return. Individuals can also report this crime to law
enforcement and the Federal Trade Commission as well as the three
national credit bureaus of Experian, Equifax and TransUnion to
place a fraud alert or credit freeze on their credit reports.
Consumers should also inform their employer's human resources
department.
- Protect Personal Information: Finally, to keep
information safe, it’s critical to create strong passwords, keep
tax records secure, use a secure Wi-Fi connection, and never share
sensitive information over the phone. NortonLifeLock also
recommends individuals monitor their online bank and credit
accounts for suspicious charges or withdrawals.
To learn more about identity theft, visit
https://us.norton.com/internetsecurity-id-theft.html.
About NortonLifeLock Inc.
NortonLifeLock Inc. (NASDAQ: NLOK) is a global leader in
consumer Cyber Safety, protecting and empowering people to live
their digital lives safely. We are the consumer’s trusted ally in
an increasingly complex and connected world. Learn more about how
we’re transforming Cyber Safety at www.NortonLifeLock.com.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210324005226/en/
Jenna Torluemke NortonLifeLock Inc. (415) 767-7800
Jenna.Torluemke@nortonlifelock.com
Christine Kim Edelman for NortonLifeLock Inc. (415) 712-3409
Christine.Kim@edelman.com
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