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Online Security Review Steps to Protect Yourself from Tax Identity Fraud

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Online Security Review Steps to Protect Yourself from Tax Identity Fraud

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By William F. Whelan, guest columnist and Senior VP, Branch/Government Banking, Capital Bank.

As the 2017 tax season gets underway, Capital Bank of New Jersey is urging all customers to take extra precaution when filing their return to prevent their exposure to tax fraud.

“Fraudsters are using very clever tactics to get a hold of your personal information and submit false tax claims,” said David J. Hanrahan, Sr., President and CEO. “Consumers must be suspicious of any communication from the IRS—through e-mail, text or social media—that requests personal information, and should keep a watchful eye out for missing W-2s and mail containing sensitive financial information.”

Tax identity fraud takes place when a criminal files a false tax return using a stolen Social Security number in order to fraudulently claim the refund. Identity thieves generally file false claims early in the year and victims are unaware until they file a return and learn one has already been filed in their name.

To help consumers prevent tax ID fraud, Capital Bank of New Jersey is offering the following tips:

1. File early. File your tax return as soon as you’re able, giving criminals less time to use your information to file a false return.

2. File on a protected Wi-Fi network. If you’re using an online service to file your return, be sure you’re connected to a password-protected personal network. Avoid using public networks like a Wi-Fi hotspot at a coffee shop.

3. Use a secure mailbox. If you’re filing by mail, drop your tax return at the post office or an official postal box instead of your mailbox at home. Some criminals look for completed tax return forms in home mailboxes during tax season.

4. Find a tax preparer you trust. If you’re planning to hire someone to do your taxes, get recommendations and research a tax preparer thoroughly before handing over all of your financial information.

5. Shred what you don’t need. Once you’ve completed your tax return, shred the sensitive documents that you no longer need and safely file away the ones you do.

6. Beware of phishing scams by e-mail, text or phone. Scammers may try to solicit sensitive information by impersonating the IRS. Know that the IRS will not contact you by e-mail, text or social media. If the IRS needs information, they will contact you by mail first.

7. Keep an eye out for missing mail. Fraudsters look for W-2s, tax refunds or other mail containing your financial information. If you don’t receive your W-2s, and your employer indicates they’ve been mailed, or it looks like it has been previously opened upon delivery, contact the IRS immediately.

If you believe you’re a victim of tax identity theft or if the IRS denies your tax return because one has previously been filed under your name, alert the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 1-800-908-4490. In addition, you should:

·         Respond immediately to any IRS notice and complete IRS Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit.
·         Contact your bank immediately, and close any accounts opened without your permission or tampered with.
·         Contact the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit records:
o   Equifax, Equifax.com, 1-800-525-6285
o   Experian, Experian.com, 1-888-397-3742
o   TransUnion, TransUnion.com, 1-800-680-7289
·         Continue to pay your taxes and file your tax return, even if you must do so by paper.
·         More information about tax identity theft is available from the FTC at ftc.gov/taxi theft and the IRS at irs.gov/identity theft.

Capital Bank opened for business in Vineland in 2007.  Currently, it has four locations—two in Vineland, one in Woodbury Heights, and one in Hammonton. Capital Bank lends money to businesses and individuals throughout South Jersey, is an Approved SBA Lender and a New Jersey EDA Premier Lender. It is also 5-Star rated by BauerFinancial (BauerFinancial.com). For more information about Capital Bank, visit capitalbanknj.com.

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Online Security Review Steps to Protect Yourself from Tax Identity Fraud

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Moss
Adams: Fraud Investigation and Forensic Accounting

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Moss
Adams: Fraud Investigation and Forensic Accounting

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We'll show you where to look for abnormal activity, what to document, and how to proceed—plus reduce the risk of fraud occurring in the first place.

PREVENT. DETECT. RECOVER.

If you discover fraud or questionable activity in your business, you must act fast. Otherwise, you could lose a large percentage of what should be revenue or even end up in a nonrecoverable situation.

With fraud examiners working closely with industry professionals, we have the training, experience, and bandwidth to help you fight fraud and recover from its effects. Our forensic accounting and investigative experience includes:

• Conflicts of interest

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OUR APPROACH TO FRAUD

Investigative and Forensic Accounting

Our team can investigate suspected fraud, abnormalities, and irregularities as well as provide expert witness testimony.

Data Analysis

We can uncover potentially fraudulent behavior with analytical tools that reveal inconsistencies in data. To do this we employ both custom-made and industry-leading tools, including ACL software that analyzes and cross-references large amounts of data from disparate sources.

Fraud Risk Management

We can help you develop and evaluate your risk management program to decrease your vulnerability to fraud and misconduct. We use interviews, surveys, and focus groups to analyze your existing strategies, refine your fraud-risk profile, and establish the right protocols to avoid the types of problems your business is most susceptible to.

Fraud Awareness Training

Deterring both internal and external fraud starts with your employees. We can teach them how to assess industry-specific risks, establish preventive actions, and create an environment of mutual proactive vigilance.

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Bacall Conniff and Associates Review:
History of the Restaurant Industry

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Bacall Conniff and Associates Review:
History of the Restaurant Industry

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Have you been curious on how restaurants began? Or how its birth brought a major impact on anyone's lives? Restaurants have been around in some form for most of the human civilization, the evolution of this type of business brought a revolutionary effect on the family, industrialization and in the economics at a global level.

Back in the days, people who established permanent homes usually make their own food: farming and domesticating animals. When people became knowledgeable and skilled to earn a living, it became inevitable for them to designate the home-based preparation of food to an individual or enterprise. Restaurants were born with that need to simply save a lot of time and to escape the tedious routine of preparing meals all day. Instead of the staple meals we commonly eat, we can now go for a certain food we desire presented in the menu. Also, we can now purchase continental food and have it delivered at our homes.

Numerous food varieties came out with the increase of people going into this line of business. Hamburgers, doughnuts, and even the brewed coffee drink cause the growth of restaurant chains especially in Singapore making it a multi-billion business worldwide. Restaurants changed not just the economic structure of the world but also the lifestyle of people generally. Today, a lot of working people rarely cook at home and simply purchase food outside. Some families on weekends go on food trips to neighboring and foreign cities for gustatory adventures.

However, restaurants particularly fast food outlets brought adverse effect in people’s health. These commercial food establishments cater unhealthy foods just to make money. But with the continuous growth of wellness and fitness industry, more and more restaurants now offer fresh, healthy and delicious options from their menu. This proves that restaurants will certainly stay to provide support to every individuals crave for good and delicious food at any time of the day.

The highly skilled professionals of Bacall ConniffBusiness Advisors will give entrepreneurs an excellent accounting and financial service to help the restaurant industry strive in the global economy