W-2 SCAMS PICKING UP AS TAX SEASON NEARS
As tax season is right around the corner the IRS is warning small businesses should be on-guard against a growing wave of identity theft and W-2 scams. Cyber-criminals tricked payroll personnel or people with access to payroll information into disclosing sensitive information for entire work-forces.
What is a W-2? … W-2’s are those essential forms you include when you file your taxes. They contain information such as your name, address, Social Security number, income, and tax withholding’s.
Employers engaged in a trade or business who pay remuneration for services performed by an employee must file a Form W-2 for each employee who had
- Income, Social Security, or Medicare taxes withheld
- Non-cash payments of $600 or more for the year
- Non-cash payments of any amount if any income, social security, or Medicare tax was withheld
How the scam works. Cyber-criminals do their homework, checking to find chief operating officers, school executives or others in positions of authority in a business. Using a technique known as business email compromise (BEC) or business email spoofing (BES), then they send an e-mail to payroll personnel posing as the executive requesting copies of Forms W-2 for all employees.
What to do?
- Be alert and aware of strange requests
- If your company falls victim report it to the IRS immediately at [email protected]
- Employees whose information has been stolen should follow steps recommended by FTC and report it at Identity Protection.
In a world today where Identity theft and cyber-criminals are on the rise, the importance of training your staff on how to handle sensitive information and what to do if there is a possible issue is essential.
