Tax scammers on the prowl after hurricanes

Scammers are using fake charities in the wake of Hurricanes Milton and Helene to harvest personal and financial data from unsuspecting taxpayers.

“You should never feel pressured by solicitors to immediately give to a charity,” said Commissioner Danny Werfel in a statement from the IRS, which issued the warning. “Verify if they’re authentic first.”

Tips to verify charities and spot fake ones:

• Scammers frequently use names that sound like well-known charities to confuse people. Fake charity promoters may also use bogus emails or fake websites or alter or “spoof” their caller ID to make themselves look like a real charity. Ask the fundraiser for the charity’s name, website and mailing address. Check the Tax-Exempt Organization Search tool on IRS.gov to help find or verify legitimate charities.
• Never work with charities that ask for donations by giving numbers from a gift card or wiring money. It’s safest to pay by credit card or check, and only after verifying the charity is real.
• Scammers want both money and personal information. Never disclose Social Security numbers, credit card numbers or personal identification numbers
• Scammers often pressure people into making an immediate payment. In contrast, legitimate charities are happy to get a donation at any time.

The IRS has other background on its Charity and Disaster Fraud page.

Source: Accounting Today
Picture: Tristan Wheelock/Bloomberg