|
Watch out for government look-alike letters, offers
Updated Nov. 1, 2010
 "Reassessing" Your Property Tax
Updated December 22, 2008
Various private companies are sending mailings to property owners offering their services to try to lower their property taxes. Unless the requests clearly show they are not a government agency, they are breaking the law. more
Fake L.A. County checks in the mail
October 28, 2008
Fake check scams are on the rise. A current scam targeting seniors across Southern California uses fake checks that appear to be from the County of Los Angeles to lure victims into wiring money to thieves in Canada. more
Tax Scams
 You’ve probably heard advertisements from tax preparers who claim they can get you larger refunds than anyone else. Or you may have received letters from charitable organizations you don’t recognize asking for a donation. Maybe you’ve received emails from identity thieves posing as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) asking for your personal financial information.
This isn’t a coincidence. It’s tax season and a lot of crooks are out to hook you into their scams.
 Tax Refund Loans: A Costly Deal
Updated March 4, 2011
• Refund anticipation loans (RALs) are popular.
• Quick cash is hard to resist, but you should.
• RALs are loaded with high rates and fees.
• Find out ways to avoid this expensive trap.
Full story
The IRS urges you to avoid common tax scams and tax return preparer fraud. For more information, check out their publications from recent tax seasons:
|