Unfortunately, many scammers think of tax season as an opportunity to take advantage of others. As always, Gold Standard Tax likes to start Tax Season off with important security and safety reminders - not to install fear, but just to make our dear tax payers "security conscious".
If a website is asking for important information (like your social security number), ALWAYS stop and think before sharing. Does this particular company need the information that is being requested? Is it a secure server? Then proceed after asking yourself these questions.
Installing security software on your devices helps do exactly what it says - keeps your device (and any important information on it) secure!
I know... I know... using your kids name or your birthdate is oh so easy to remember. But it is also oh so easy for scammers to figure out. If you have difficulty remembering your passwords, use a software (that is secure) to remember them for you. But never risk easy passwords.
When it comes to the office and the real world...
If you have documents with important information on it that needs to be discarded, always shred it before you throw it away.
Do you have important documents in your home office or in your office office? We recommend never leaving a paper trail... but if you must use actual paper documents, be sure they are locked in a secure location and are never left lying around.
Just like online, never give away important information via snail mail or over the phone without double checking who is asking.
If you have any questions about staying secure this tax season, please be sure to just reach out and ask one of us #GoldenGirls.
Contact us:
[email protected] | CA (760) 888-6247 | NY (845) 237-4060
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