 TITLE: How to Keep Your Tax Refund Safe From Fraudsters CONTENT: How to Prevent Tax Refund Theft\n-------------------------------\nNo matter how careful you are, it's still possible for hackers to gain access to your Social Security number and other information via data breaches and other means beyond your control. That said, here are some concrete steps you can take to safeguard your tax refund:\n*   **File early**: Federal tax season typically starts at the end of January, and most people receive W-2 forms and other required tax documents around that time. As soon as you have everything you need to file, don't waste any time getting the job done. That way, if someone tries to file a return in your name later, it'll be automatically denied as a duplicate.\n*   **Keep your information secure online**: The internet provides criminals with several opportunities to steal your personally identifiable information. While there's not much you can do to ensure the companies that handle this data will keep it secure, using strong passwords—unique, long strings of letters, numbers and symbols—can make it harder for hackers to access your accounts. If you need help keeping track of all your passwords, use a secure password manager like LastPass or 1Password.\n*   **Learn how to spot phishing attempts**: Phishing attacks are emails and text messages from fraudsters posing as legitimate companies. They'll typically ask you to provide sensitive information, and can include a link or attachment that can install harmful malware to steal your personal information. If you get an email that seems suspicious, don't click on any links or attachments. Even if the email seems to be from a legitimate organization, hover over links to view the URL before you proceed.\n*   **Keep important documents safe**: Some documents, such as your Social Security card and birth certificate, can't be securely stored online or on your computer. Keep important paper documents in a safety deposit box at your local bank or in a fireproof lockbox at home to keep them safe from prying eyes.\n*   **Take your time when choosing a tax preparer**: If you're using a tax professional or online service to file your tax return, do some research before you narrow down your selection. Look up customer reviews or ask for references, so you can make sure the person or service you're using is legitimate and will keep your data secure.\n*   **Watch out for tax scams**: The IRS will never call to threaten you or to demand immediate payment with a specific payment method. Nor will they demand you pay taxes with no questions asked or the right to appeal. If you get such a call from someone claiming to be an IRS agent or someone from a tax preparation firm, it's likely a scam. Hang up and call the IRS or business in question to confirm.\nAs you take these steps, it's still possible to fall victim to tax identity theft, but criminals will have a much more difficult time succeeding. END