By Seena Gressin Attorney, Division of Consumer & Business Education Federal Trade Commission Identity theft is hard enough. That’s why we keep working to make recovering from it easier. It’s also why we’re happy to let you know about an innovative project by the FTC and IRS that lets people report tax-related identity theft to…
They’re at it again… tax scammers scheming new ways to steal personal information and money.
In the first scenario, identity thieves file a fake tax return and have the refund deposited into your bank account. The thieves then contact you, often by phone, and — posing as the IRS or debt collectors for the IRS — demand you return the money to the IRS. But following the thieves’ instructions actually sends the money to them.
This winter’s heavy rains have left many asphalt roads and driveways crumbling or covered with potholes. That’s made the state fertile ground for a long-standing construction scam: families of unlicensed paving and seal coating contractors sweeping in from out-of-state and taking advantage of unsuspecting homeowners. Friday, March 3, investigators from the Contractors State License Board’s…
County elections officials and the California Secretary of State’s office have received more than 100 complaints from voters who have received letters from a group called the Voter Participation Center. The organization’s letters claim that the voter is not registered to vote and offers a pre-filled voter registration form with incorrect or outdated information, or…
Attorney General Kamala D. Harris has issued a consumer alert warning California businesses to be aware of phishing scams that target the workplace and can lead to data breaches and loss of funds. The scam is commonly called “brand spoofing” or “phishing” because the spam mail sent uses familiar or legitimate-sounding names of companies to…
It’s tax time, and the “IRS Tax Scam” is out and about. Actually, this scam operates all year long, and it involves you receiving a recorded (usually) telephone message that “this is your second and last warning” that you owe the IRS money for back taxes and late fees, which you must pay off immediately…
During the month of November the Hemet Station of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said several incidents were reported to authorities of a potential phone scam/fraud. The unknown suspects are targeting mainly the elderly with threats of arrest if they do not send money to pay for a warrant or a failure to appear. Since…
As the holiday seasons approach, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has issued a warning of continuing phone scams and frauds. A notable and common scheme involves a caller who claims to be a member of law enforcement or an employee of the Riverside County court system. The victim is told he or she has a…
Check scammers trick victims by mailing counterfeit checks in the victim’s name, claiming they overpaid for some service or purchase. The scammers then request that the overpaid money can be returned by way of a money order or cash. The scammer offers to buy an item for several hundred dollars (or more), but uses a…
