The IRS is the only source of official guidance on tax refunds and stimulus payments. The agency doesn’t directly email individuals and will instead reach out only via mail. For all other information, the IRS website is your best bet, as it includes lots of FAQs and some online tools for helping you calculate tax […]

The COVID-19 pandemic has spurred a surge in charitable giving, with many high-profile events capturing the public’s attention. The iHeart Radio Living Room Concert for America, hosted by Elton John on March 29, 2020, was one such occasion: It brought in $10 million in donations and was watched by nearly 9 million viewers across the […]

Fraudsters are fond of setting up fake e-commerce sites in times of crisis. Prior to making a purchase, read reviews to hear what others say about the merchant. In addition, look for a physical location and any customer service information. It’s also a good idea to call the merchant to confirm that they are legitimate.

Impersonation is a popular tactic among cybercriminals today. By putting enough space between them and their victims, the internet makes it easy for scammers to pose as government agents, representatives of well-known organizations, and even loved ones via emails, direct messages, phone calls, etc. Once they have your trust, these fraudsters will try to coerce […]

Impersonating U.S. soldiers is a common scam tactic on Facebook. Someone will pretend to be a service member and then ask for escalating payments to help tend to an injury or other invented pretext. As a rule of thumb, don’t pay anyone on Facebook unless you know them.

Cashier’s checks are supposed to be reliable. However, some scammers use fake cashier’s checks in e-commerce schemes. Watch out if someone offers to send a cashier’s check for more than the amount you asked for an item, and then directs you to pay the excess amount to a third party.