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The Unspoken Threat of Tax Season

2/13/2020

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Now that Tax Season is officially here, there are so many things on your plate and that of your Tax Preparer. But did you know that there is a very scary potential danger lurking behind the dark doors of the internet that could ruin your life simply by getting access to your tax documents?

Happy February! We are in full swing of Tax Season here in Summerville and have been thoroughly enjoying helping our clients get their taxes prepared and sent off. The IRS has been accepting online tax submissions for over two weeks now, and we are ready for the very busy weeks ahead of us. We are here to help you with all of your tax needs in Summerville, so please don't hesitate to reach out and connect with us so we can help you file appropriately and on time!

Our company, along with many others like us, are in the busiest times of their work year. Tax season can bring the fear of making sure your tax documents are filled out appropriately and on time along with the need of avoiding any penalties and accruing penalties. But the fear of online security attacks on CPA's and Tax Preparers also needs to be added to the list of worries and concerns for everyone this tax season. Cyber crime has sadly become one of the largest and most expensive forms of crimes globally. Banks, shipping companies, medical corporations, and even dating sites have become victims of cyber attacks, causing the leak of some of the most private and personal information that someone can get their hands on to use against the company or to steal someone's identity. It looks like CPA's and Tax Preparer's are starting to inch their way further up the list of those who are attacked most frequently, especially the deeper we head into Tax Season. The reality that Tax Preparers are some of the most attacked and targeted because of the very high profile data they are in charge of is becoming all too familiar. Cyber crime is running rampant through the streets of the internet, and during tax season, the level of crime and danger has become catastrophic.

Why specifically are these cyber criminals going after your CPA's and Tax Preparers? Think about the kinds of information they are privy to and have stored on their hard drives. They have years worth of bank account numbers, social security numbers, years of previous tax returns, your Employee Identification numbers, and plenty of other documents that could lead to your whole life being stolen if taken into the wrong hands. This kind of information is the forbidden candy store that is off-limits to any prying eyes, making it even more appealing to cyber criminals. This kind of information can also be very lucrative for the criminal, as they can use it for blackmail, something they can sell, or simply ruining your credit and stealing your identity. Thankfully this is where the Financial Services Act of 1999 comes into the picture to save you and your Tax Preparers state of mind. This act legally obligated any Tax Preparer to provide protection for their clients' digital documents.

Cyber criminals know that tax season is the most stressful, busy, and difficult times of the year for any Tax Preparer, and they will take advantage of that. As much as we hope this would be common knowledge to our fellow tax preparers, there are still some out there who are not as aware or not as prepared as they should be. Even if cyber attacks have never been an issue for your company or your tax preparer before, that doesn't mean they couldn't be attacked in the future. One of the biggest issues with cyber criminals now is that they are becoming smarter and more dangerous as time goes by. They are starting to figure out how to break in quicker, stronger, and in ways they never have before. Now, many of these attacks can go unnoticed for long periods or go under the radar without ever being caught. No matter the size of a Tax Preparation company, it will be at risk and can still be targeted. To a cyber criminal, any information they can steal is a good opportunity for them, and a horrible loss for you.

We understand how difficult this time of year is for anyone involved in preparing taxes, we are doing it right alongside you. But we could not stress enough that it is past time to take your IT protection seriously. Make sure you are constantly up to date with the programs you use to keep your digital files protected and consider working with a company whose sole job it is to keep you safe from things some software can't even detect. It might seem like overkill, but when it comes to your client's personal information and your reputation as a company, you can't put a price on that! For those looking into working with a Tax Preparation company, make sure to ask about the company's IT security. Do your research and see what protection they have provided their clients. Make sure their track record is strong, and that you feel confident in the protection they offer. Don't be afraid to ask about their security measures. you're handing over your personal information and it needs to stay this way. If they can't provide this information, then they might not be the company for you. We understand that asking these types of questions might be the last thing on your mind during tax season, but asking them and getting a positive response is just as important as filing your tax documents by April 15th!

Be smart this tax season and take your protection seriously. Make sure you are prepared for whatever might come your way. Until next time, we are Pathways Consulting and we are are here for all of your tax needs here in Summerville!
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Staying Safe during Black Friday and Cyber Monday!

11/19/2019

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It's so easy to get caught up in the sales and excitement of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. But remember hackers and other scams will be out there waiting for you, to prey on this excitement and your joy of wanting to get a jump start on your Christmas shopping. Enjoy all of the great online deals out there, but remember to be safe while doing so! 

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and for many, the real excitement is in the rush and excitement of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Deals are just waiting to be discovered, picked up, and purchased. One of the best parts? You can do a lot of this shopping from the comfort of your home, still eating Thanksgiving leftovers. But these shoppers aren't the only ones who are excited about the holidays. Hackers, Phishing Scams, and other dangerous lurkers are out there waiting to prey on anyone who will take the bait for a good deal. You should enjoy these opportunities and sales if that's something you enjoy doing. But if you're going to be participating in some of the biggest shopping days of the year, you need to be smart and stay safe while doing so. Please consider this list of tips and things to do as you are reaching for your credit card this year. 

  • Shop on websites that you have known and have always trusted.
  • Make sure to check that you are on a safely connected network and that the website you are shopping on is SSL certified. If the website is not, you do not want to use your credit card on this site! It will be much easier for hackers to get a hold of your information from these unprotected sites. 
  • Don't use your credit card on an open WiFi connection. If you're at a coffee shop or using a similar public connection, this is not the time to be shopping online or entering your credit card information. These open WiFi connections are much easier to hack into and into your system once you're connected. Someone might even be waiting in your favorite coffee shop to prey on people who are connected and shopping, just waiting to steal their information. Also bringing your credit card out in a public place and flashing it around while you're typing in your information is dangerous. Just wait until you get home. 
  • If a website looks suspicious, has a poor design quality, and looks questionable, it probably is. Don't chance it. This website could represent a legitimate business, or not. Having your identity stolen and compromised isn't worth taking the chance to find out. 
  • If a deal is too good to be true on a website that you don't know and trust, then it probably is. Phishing scams are waiting online and in your email to pounce on you during the holidays. Be aware and cautious, even more than you might normally be. 
  • If a website is asking for very personal and unnecessary information to gain a special deal or discount, avoid it. That is a phishing scam waiting to happen! 
  • Make sure your passwords are strong and different for every website, credit card, and bank account that you log into. Change them often and don't leave that information laying around. 
  • If you're shopping on your cell phone, all of these bits of advice still apply. 
  • Social media scams are out there. Make sure to spot them. Again, if the deal looks too good to be true, it will be. If the link to the website or deal looks weird, it is. Make sure to investigate any new website or deal before you start giving away any personal information. 
  • Read reviews and ask questions from those who have purchased or shopped on a website that is new to you. Read and pay attention to anything negative about the purchasing experience. Make sure their website has an FAQ and terms of service page that make sense and has been written specifically for the company. If they looked ripped off from any generic store or website, the rest of the website is quite possibly a front for something else. If something still looks scary but you still want to buy something from the site, call their customer service number. If the company doesn't have customer service or it seems very sketchy, think again. 
  • If everything on the website you're shopping on checks out but you get to the checkout page and it's not secure? Log out and get off of that website right away. DO NOT put in your personal information! 
  • If you haven't already put alerts or turned them on for your credit cards and bank accounts, do so before you start your online shopping.

Being hacked, opening and falling into a phishing scam, or getting your identity stolen should be the last thing you need to worry about this holiday season. But you need to be proactive and prepared to make sure you don't fall victim to these things. Use this list as a guide to stay safe, protected, and be able to enjoy your cyber shopping without fear of someone ruining the best part of the year! 

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