The Oceanside Chamber of Commerce
The Oceanside Chamber's

Member News

Oceanside Chamber of Commerce
  • About Us
    • Advocacy >
      • Chamber Political Action Committee
      • Public Policy Guidelines
    • Our Work >
      • 2024 Annual Report
      • Committees - Task Forces - Forums
    • Oceanside Young Professionals
    • Oceanside Leadership Academy
    • Workforce Development >
      • SOCAL Workforce
      • Pooled Employer Plan
      • Kindness
      • Frontline Friendly
    • Chamber Staff
    • Privacy Policy
  • Membership
    • Member Portal
    • Business Directory >
      • All Categories
      • Coupons
      • New Members
    • Application
    • Testimonials
    • Digital Plaque - Oceanside Chamber Member
  • Events
    • Signature Chamber Events >
      • Meet the City of Oceanside
      • Armed Forces Day Operation Appreciation
      • Coastal Business Expo
      • North County Health Fair
      • Heroes of Oceanside and Camp Pendleton
      • Oceanside Senior Showcase
      • Rising Star Student Program
    • Monthly Chamber Events
    • Oceanside Community Events
    • Annual OCC Mixer Passs
  • Media
    • Publications >
      • Best of Oceanside Magazine
      • Military Publications
    • Advertising Your Business
    • Member News
    • Blog
  • Oceanside
    • About Oceanside >
      • History of Oceanside
      • Demographics
      • Arts and Culture
      • Education
      • Employment
      • Health Care
      • Religious Organizations
      • Local Government and Services
      • Retiring in Oceanside
      • Oceanside Maps
    • Visitor Information >
      • Beaches
      • Accommodations
      • Groups and Meeting
    • Things to Do >
      • Oceanside Events >
        • Downtown History Walks
        • Farmers Market
        • Sunset Market
      • Shopping >
        • Coupons
      • Dining
      • Surfing
      • Regional Attractions
    • Volunteer Opportunities
  • Resources
    • Community Resources
    • Local Business Resources
    • Military Resources
    • Sustainability Resources

Tax Time Guide: Protect personal, financial and tax information

3/28/2019

 
Picture
The Internal Revenue Service today urged taxpayers to protect the security of their personal, financial and tax information. Con artists use scams and schemes to steal personal information and money from unsuspecting victims, particularly during tax time.
The Internal Revenue Service today urged taxpayers to protect the security of their personal, financial and tax information. Con artists use scams and schemes to steal personal information and money from unsuspecting victims, particularly during tax time.

This news release is part of a series called the Tax Time Guide, a resource to help taxpayers file an accurate tax return. Additional help is available in Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax, and the tax reform information page.

The IRS doesn’t initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text messages or social media channels to request personal or financial information. The public should be alert to scammers posing as the IRS to steal personal information. There are ways to know if it’s really the IRS calling or knocking on someone’s door.

The IRS also works with the Security Summit, a partnership with state tax agencies and the private-sector tax industry, to help protect taxpayer information and defend against identity theft. Taxpayers and tax professionals can take steps to help in this effort.
​
Protect personal information
Treat personal information like cash – don’t hand it out to just anyone. Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, bank and even utility account numbers can be used to help steal a person’s money or open new accounts. Every time a taxpayer receives a request for personal information, they should think about whether the request is truly necessary. Scammers will do everything they can to appear trustworthy and legitimate.
 
Avoid phishing scams
The easiest way for criminals to steal sensitive data is simply to ask for it. Learn to recognize phishing emails, calls or texts that pose as familiar organizations such as banks, credit card companies or even the IRS. These ruses generally urge taxpayers to give up sensitive data such as passwords, Social Security numbers and bank account or credit card numbers. They are called phishing scams because they attempt to lure the receiver into taking the bait.  
 
Be aware that an unsolicited email with a request to download an attachment or click on a URL could appear to come from someone that you know like a friend, work colleague or tax professional if their email has been spoofed or compromised.
 
Don’t assume internet advertisements, pop-up ads or emails are from reputable companies. If an ad or offer looks too good to be true, take a moment to check out the company behind it. Type the company or product name into a search engine with terms like “review,” “complaint” or “scam.”
 
The IRS urges people to never download “security” software from a pop-up ad. A pervasive ploy is a pop-up ad that indicates it has detected a virus on the computer. Don’t fall for it. The download most likely will install some type of malware. Reputable security software companies do not advertise in this manner. For more information on reporting IRS-related phishing see “Report Phishing” on IRS.gov.
 
Safeguard personal data in daily, online activity
Taxpayers should safeguard their Social Security number. Provide it only when necessary.
 
Provide personal information over reputable, encrypted websites only. Shopping or banking online should be done only on sites that use encryption. People should look for “https” at the beginning of a web address (the “s” stands for secure) and be sure “https” is on every page of the site.
 
Use strong passwords
The longer the password, the tougher it is to crack. Use at least 10 characters; 12 is ideal for most home users. Mix letters, numbers and special characters. Try to be unpredictable – don’t use names, birthdates or common words. Don’t use the same password for many accounts and don’t share them on the phone, in texts or by email. Consider using a passphrase versus a password. Legitimate companies will not send messages asking for passwords. Receiving such a message probably means it’s a scam. Keep passwords in a secure place or use password management software.
 
Set password and encryption protections for wireless networks. If a home or business Wi-Fi is unsecured, it allows any computer within range to access the wireless network and potentially steal information from connected devices.
 
Use security software
An anti-malware program should provide protection from viruses, Trojans, spyware and adware. The IRS urges people, especially tax professionals, to use an anti-malware program and always keep it up to date.
 
Set security software to update automatically so it can be upgraded as threats emerge. Also, make sure the security software is “on” at all times. Invest in encryption software to ensure data at rest is protected from unauthorized access by hackers or identity thieves. Educate children about the threats of opening suspicious web pages, emails or documents.
 
Back up files
No system is completely secure. Copy important files, including federal and state tax returns, onto a removable disc or a back-up drive, and store it in a safe place. Federal and state tax returns are important financial documents. People need them from time to time for home mortgages or college financial aid applications. These steps also can help taxpayers more easily prepare next year’s tax return. If storing sensitive tax and financial records on a personal computer, use a file encryption program to add an additional layer of security.
 
Taxpayers can find answers to questions, forms and instructions and easy-to-use tools online at IRS.gov. They can use these resources to get help when it’s needed at home, at work or on the go.
melissa link
1/10/2024 06:55:23 am

Highly Recommended!
Very insightful, i will also say this here. Investment is one of the best ways to achieve financial freedom. For a beginner there are so many challenges you face. It's hard to know how to get started. Trading on the Cryptocurrency market has really been a life changer for me. I almost gave up on crypto at some point not until saw a recommendation on Elon musk successfully success story and I got a proficient trader/broker Mr Bernie Doran , he gave me all the information required to succeed in trading. I made more profit than I could ever imagine. I'm not here to converse much but to share my testimony; I have made total returns of $10,500.00 from an investment of just $1000.00 within 1 week. Thanks to Mr Bernie I'm really grateful,I have been able to make a great returns trading with his signals and strategies .I urge anyone interested in INVESTMENT to take bold step in investing in the Cryptocurrency Market, you can reach him on WhatsApp : +1(424) 285-0682 or his Gmail : [email protected] bitcoin is taking over the world, tell him I referred you


Comments are closed.
    SEARCH NEWS ARCHIVES
    CALCHAMBER NEWS
    ​
    CalChamber Alerts
    CalChamber Advocacy
    CalChamber HR
    Chamber Blog

    news Categories

    All
    Arts & Culture
    BGOC
    Business Advocacy
    Business Workshops
    Careers
    Charitable Events
    Christmas
    City Of Oceanside News
    Coastal Communities
    Community News
    Consumer Column
    COVID 19
    Cox Communications
    CSUSM
    Education
    Electricity
    Events
    Finance
    Frontwave
    Halloween
    Health & Wellness
    Housing
    Kaiser Permanente
    Kids Event
    Local Events
    Local News
    Medical
    Member News
    Military
    MiraCosta Community College
    Networking
    Non Profit
    North County News
    Oceanside Business
    Oceanside Events
    Oceanside News
    Oceanside Public Library
    Political Scene
    Promotions
    Restaurants
    Retail
    Safety
    San Diego County Event
    San Diego County News
    Scripps News
    SDG&E
    SDGE
    Senior Citizens
    Small Business News
    Tax News
    Things To Do
    Transportation
    Tri City News
    Valentine's Day
    Veterans
    Workforce Development

    ​RECENT NEWS

    June 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018

    RSS Feed

928 N. Coast Highway | Oceanside, CA 92054
760-722-1534 | [email protected]
Copyright © 2025 Oceanside Chamber of Commerce

Privacy Policy | Map/Directions
Picture
  • About Us
    • Advocacy >
      • Chamber Political Action Committee
      • Public Policy Guidelines
    • Our Work >
      • 2024 Annual Report
      • Committees - Task Forces - Forums
    • Oceanside Young Professionals
    • Oceanside Leadership Academy
    • Workforce Development >
      • SOCAL Workforce
      • Pooled Employer Plan
      • Kindness
      • Frontline Friendly
    • Chamber Staff
    • Privacy Policy
  • Membership
    • Member Portal
    • Business Directory >
      • All Categories
      • Coupons
      • New Members
    • Application
    • Testimonials
    • Digital Plaque - Oceanside Chamber Member
  • Events
    • Signature Chamber Events >
      • Meet the City of Oceanside
      • Armed Forces Day Operation Appreciation
      • Coastal Business Expo
      • North County Health Fair
      • Heroes of Oceanside and Camp Pendleton
      • Oceanside Senior Showcase
      • Rising Star Student Program
    • Monthly Chamber Events
    • Oceanside Community Events
    • Annual OCC Mixer Passs
  • Media
    • Publications >
      • Best of Oceanside Magazine
      • Military Publications
    • Advertising Your Business
    • Member News
    • Blog
  • Oceanside
    • About Oceanside >
      • History of Oceanside
      • Demographics
      • Arts and Culture
      • Education
      • Employment
      • Health Care
      • Religious Organizations
      • Local Government and Services
      • Retiring in Oceanside
      • Oceanside Maps
    • Visitor Information >
      • Beaches
      • Accommodations
      • Groups and Meeting
    • Things to Do >
      • Oceanside Events >
        • Downtown History Walks
        • Farmers Market
        • Sunset Market
      • Shopping >
        • Coupons
      • Dining
      • Surfing
      • Regional Attractions
    • Volunteer Opportunities
  • Resources
    • Community Resources
    • Local Business Resources
    • Military Resources
    • Sustainability Resources