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Tax related phishing scams continue to rise as the deadline for filing taxes nears.  Experts say the most common types of tax related phishing scams include fake offers of refunds, economic stimulus payments, or help getting rid of tax debt.  When the recipient unwittingly follows the link provided, they are taken to a site where lots of personal info such a social security and bank account numbers is asked for. 

“Filing your taxes online is extremely convenient, however if you want to maintain the privacy of your data, you need to ensure that you are connecting to the proper Web site, that the connection is using encryption, and that your computer is free from any malware. If any of these components are compromised then your data is not safe,” Ryan Barnett, director of application security research for Breach Security, said on Friday.

Another tax related scam to watch out for is fake tax preparation sites.  These malicious sites look like legit tax prep sites but are actually out to steal your data.  Stick with the big guys like TurboTax or H&R Block, or better still, find a local accountant to help you.  To protect yourself from tax related scams, keep your anti-virus program updated, never click on links in emails from people you don’t know, and when in doubt, go to the IRS website or give them a call.

Read [CNet]