(NAPSA)—According to a recent survey, many people engage in behavior online that could lead to identity theft during tax season, often due to some com- mon misconceptions about the risks of preparing and submitting tax documents—but you may be able to avoid these behaviors. Here’s a look at the problems: Online Passwords Most people are aware of the possible risks of sharing personal information during a transaction; 88 percent worry the organization they share personal information with could suffer a data breach, yet only 31 percent have a unique password for each site they use. Online Tax Submission Respondents expressed mistrust of their tax preparers, with 53 percent concerned about identity theft. Postal mail continued to be the most trustworthy of delivery options with 60 percent listing it as the most secure way to file their taxes. Nevertheless, 53 percent submit taxes online. IRS Contact Methods Too many respondents don’t know how the IRS contacts tax payers: 40 believe it can be via email, mail or phone. The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers through e-mail. Here are a few tips to help you: WhenPreparing Your Return 1. Be aware of suspicious emails and phone calls about your refund, filing or stimulus checks—Check with the IRS at www.irs.gov to learn how to spot scammers and thieves posing as the IRS anda list of known phishes. 2. Be diligent choosing a tax preparer—Work with a credible firm and be extra cautious 25 20 15 O %ofID Theft Related to Tax or Wage fraud 10 5 2009 2011 @ Tax ID theft doubling in the past two years means a more complex crime to solve. Services like PrivacyGuard can help. about new or seasonal offices. Check the IRS website for advice on choosing a tax preparer. 3. Secure your computer—If youfile electronically, be sure to install updated firewalls and antispyware protection. During and After Filing 1. Mail securely—If you file via mail, do so directly from the post office, not in an unlocked mailbox. Usefirst class mail with a tracking number. 2. Safeguard sensitive information—Keep paperwork in a safe location at home. Outside, makesureit’s notvisible. 3. Microshred your documents—Cross-cut shredders just don’t “cut” it these days. A microcut shredderliterally turns documents into dust. Get Identity Theft Protection For extra identity protection, consider enrolling in an identity theft protection program such as PrivacyGuard. Its triple-bureau credit monitoring scans your credit files every day and quickly alerts you to any problems. Learn More For more advice, visit www. privacyguard.com or call (800) 374-8273.
