Ask The California Employment Tax And Payroll Tax Attorney – October Is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month – Protect Your Family

By Robert S. Schriebman

2022

Introduction

The IRS wants you to know that October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. The IRS, working together with agencies from states and the private sector tax industry, has published IR 2022-187 warning that families, especially teens and senior citizens are the most vulnerable groups to cybersecurity attacks. Many of the dangers come from sharing devices at home, shopping online, and using social media.  The IRS provides You Tube videos and IR Publication 4524 Security

Awareness for Taxpayers. Through You Tube you can learn what a scam call sounds like and how not to click on or download attachments from unsolicited suspicious emails from unknown senders.

While the IRS is focusing primarily upon protecting taxpayers from scams that steal your tax refunds, they have also published online safety suggestions to protect children, senior citizens, and other vulnerable groups.

Here are a few safety suggestions set forth in IR 2022-187:

• Recognize and avoid scams. Be aware of phishing emails, fake social media profiles, threatening phone calls and texts from thieves posing as the IRS or legitimate organizations especially connected to state and federal programs. Check IRS You Tube sources to determine what a scam call sounds like. Go with your gut.  If you feel you are about to be scammed, you are probably right.  Remember the IRS never uses email, text messages, or social media to discuss personal or business tax issues.
• Never overshare. Think twice before sharing personal information, such as birthdates, addresses, age, financial information, bank account information and especially Social Security numbers.
• Public Wi-Fi networks. Mail and coffee shops are convenient, but they are not safe. Scammers can easily hack into their computers and Wi-Fi. Always use a virtual private network (VPN) when connecting to public Wi-Fi.
• Use security software and anti-virus protections. This is self-explanatory. Encrypt sensitive files. Consider using a password manager and create multi-factored authentication for personal as well as business accounts.

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Robert Schriebman has a successful practice in the Rolling Hills Estates area of Los Angeles County serving clients throughout California and the United States. He has successfully dedicated more than 50 years to helping individual taxpayers, business owners, CPAs, Enrolled Agents, and tax attorneys navigate the complicated tax systems of the federal and state governments. Mr. Schriebman is in private practice. He is not affiliated in any way with the EDD, and he is not employed by the EDD or any other agency of the State of California.

Robert Schriebman has written the only 2 books ever published dealing with how California Employment Development Department (EDD) operates. See “California Tax Collection Practice and Procedures” and “California Taxation Practice and Procedure,” both published by Commerce Clearing House.

Robert Schriebman has written over 20 books including the major manual used nationally by practitioners and the IRS, “IRS Tax Collection Procedures – A Manual for Practitioners” published by Commerce Clearing House.

Robert Schriebman has written over 20 books including the major manual used nationally by practitioners and the IRS, “IRS Tax Collection Procedures – A Manual for Practitioners” published by Commerce Clearing House in addition to the only 2 books ever published dealing with how California Employment Development Department (EDD) operates. See “California Tax Collection Practice and Procedures” and “California Taxation Practice and Procedure,” both published by Commerce Clearing House.

Web Site Article 687