Scam of the Week: Tax scams

The Scam: IRS “Dirty Dozen” tax scams
The Targets: Taxpayers
The Hook: Avoid come-ons with these titles, the IRS says: “Zero Wages”, “Form 843 Tax Abatement”, “Zero Return”, “4th Amendment", "5th Amendment", "No Gain Deduction". In addition, taxpayers are targeted by identity thieves, charitable trust abusers, offshore con artists and more, the IRS says.
The Scammers: They run the gamut from crooked tax preparers to the notorious "419 boys", Nigeria-based computer punks who email you offers of millions...if you just send them cash first. 419 boys (named after the Nigerian legal code for fraud) run tax scams, too.
How to avoid being scammed: Use common sense - if an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. And arm yourself with information. Go to www.irs.gov and search for the term "tax scams". You'll be rich with knowledge.

PLEASE NOTE:
I'm going to try some new rules for commenting.
1. Comments must be signed. Unsigned comments will be deleted.
2. Comments signed as someone other than the writer will be deleted.
3. No profanity or obscene, vulgar, defamatory or libelous speech.

Thanks,
Greg Reeves

Comments

[Ken]

Why is it I think that the real tax scam is the one perpetrated by the IRS?

I got one of those scam things in my email once. It was a letter saying "If you are a family memeber of the late (deceased persons name) this is uregent! You have interest in his estate, per his request." I didn't get what the heck they were talking about me. The next day, I realized it was an old school buddy that had passed away, and I signed the guest book, and allowed my email to be displayed, so the family would know who I was, and contact me if they wanted to.. We weren't that close, and I hated hearing of his passing, but this letter said I had money left to me, by my friend , and I only needed to send them $500 to take care of the title work to the property?? In additon to the cash he left me? HUH? Did I fall for this? HE$$ NO! There's a scam a second goiong on, not just in the USA , but everywhere!!

[rich siegel]

See how one man scammed the scammers, visit
http://www.tuesdayswithmantu.com

[Vibiana]

The biggest tax scam going is the George W. Bush Administration. :-)