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IRS

• The e-mail (or phone call) says you owe money; if you don’t pay it immediately, you’ll be put in jail or fined.The scammer may know the last four digits of the victim’s Social Security number.
• Caller ID will be spoofed to look like the call is from the IRS.
• The e-mail will include an IRS logo and other nuances to make it look official.
• The scammer may also have an accomplice call the victim pretending to be a police officer.
• The victim is scared into sending the “owed” money—which goes to the thief. Or, the thief gets the victim to reveal credit card information.
• Another version is that the IRS owes the victim. The victim is tricked into revealing bank account information to receive the refund.
• Know that the IRS will never contact you via e-mail or phone; will never threaten jail time, a fine or other threats like a driver’s license revocation.
• If you owe, the IRS will send you snail mail, certified.
• The IRS will never threaten to have you arrested.
• If the subject line of an e-mail appears to be from the IRS, delete it.
• If a phone call appears to be from the IRS, hang up.

Bereavement

• Scammers scan obituaries for prey.
• They then contact someone related to the deceased and claim something against the estate or that they’ll reveal a family secret scandal unless they’re paid.
• If one of these scams comes your way, request written documentation of the claim.
• Tell the sender you’ll send this documentation to the executor.
• If you’re blackmailed, contact a lawyer.
• Never arrange to meet the sender.

Computer Hijack

• This may come as a phone call: A person claiming to be a Microsoft rep informs you that your computer has been hacked and he’ll fix it—or you’ll lose everything.
• He wants to convince you to let him have remote control or “sharing” of your computer…and from there he’ll try to get your credit card number…

Investment Scam

• Someone halfway around the world has chosen YOU to handle a large amount of money, and you’ll be paid richly for this.
• The sender often has a foreign sounding name, but even common names are used.
• Often, there’s some smaltzy message in the e-mail subject line like “God bless you” or “Need your help.”
• Delete e-mails with any subject lines relating to investments, inheritances, mentions of money, princes, barristers or other nonsense.
• If you feel compelled to open one, don’t be surprised if there are typos or that it’s poorly written. Do NOT click any links!

Robert Siciliano CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com, personal security and identity theft expert and speaker is the author of 99 Things You Wish You Knew Before Your Identity Was Stolen. See him knock’em dead in this identity theft prevention video.