April 2019 Tax Time Quiz

April SP – April 2019 Tax Time Quiz While identity theft and financial fraud can happen any time of the year, it seems that crooks take advantage of tax season more than any other time of the year. How savvy are you when it comes to tax-time scams? Take our quiz and find out.

Your email address:

1. True or False? The IRS uses scare tactics on the phone with taxpayers threatening lawsuits, deportation, or imprisonment if immediate action is not taken.

True

False

Question 1 of 5

2. True or False. The IRS sends emails about issues or refunds.

True

False

Question 2 of 5

3. Fraudulent tax preparers, known as 'ghost' prepares, defraud their victims (taxpayers) and the US Government (IRS) by:

Preparing returns with false information to get the taxpayer a bigger refund with little to no gain for themselves.

Not signing the tax documents they've prepared. Instead, they make the taxpayer sign and file so that the ghost preparers do not have to take responsibility for the return.

Signing the tax documents they've prepared with a false name so that the ghost preparers do not have to take responsibility for the return.

Sending phishing emails to taxpayers looking for personal information with which to file a false tax return.

Question 3 of 5

4. April 15th is probably the most well-known tax deadline among the general public. However, the IRS reminds taxpayers to be vigilant during which other big tax date?

January 15

June 15

October 15

December 31

Question 4 of 5

5. During times of stress, taxes might be the furthest thing from your mind. However, scammers contact disaster victims and claim to be working on behalf of the IRS. They ask for personal information under the pretext of filing a casualty loss claim. How can you protect yourself from fraudulent charity pleas?

Don’t give out personal or financial information such as Social Security numbers.

Be wary of charities with names that resemble nationally-known charity organizations.

Contribute by check or another way that provides documentation of the gift.

Donate to the charity since you recognize the name, even though the requester refuses to provide detailed information about its identity, mission, costs, and how the donation will be used.

Question 5 of 5

April 2019 Free Cyber Security Quiz

Tax Time Scams