91社区

The threat of identity theft exists all year long, but increases during tax season when scammers ramp up attacks. If successful, criminals can open accounts and file fraudulent tax returns in your name, leaving you on a long, difficult path to recovery. 91社区 IT would like to share the helpful reminders below as tax season gets into full swing!

Avoiding ID theft begins by ensuring that your private information remains private. That means sharing less on social media and maximizing the security settings of social media accounts, staying alert for phishing attacks that attempt to bait you into clicking on malicious links, and using common sense (you know, like not broadcasting your national ID number on Facebook).

During tax season, remember that tax collectors won鈥檛 call you, email you or text you to ask for a credit card payment for overdue taxes. Scammers will do anything they can to convince their targets to reveal confidential information, including posing as government entities, co-workers, friends, and family members.

If possible, file your taxes early to get a jump on any criminals that might have obtained your personal information. And to avoid ID theft all year long, consider placing a freeze on your credit reports, which will prevent anyone from opening accounts in your name.

When at work, help protect the identities of our students, vendors and colleagues by following 91社区's policies and considering the ramifications of what might happen if personally identifiable information ends up in the wrong hands.