Get a voicemail about tax services? Don't fall for the 'Eavesdropping Scam'
Tax Day is nearing, and we hope you have everything in order by now or at least on your way there. Just because there’s a deadline doesn’t mean you should be scrambling to finish by then.
April 18 is not only the last day to file your taxes, but it’s also the deadline to claim your old tax refunds from 2018. The IRS says there are $1.5 billion in unclaimed funds, and hundreds of those dollars could be waiting for you. Tap or click here for our report and tips on claiming your refund.
Crooks never take a rest, but you’ll notice a rise in certain types of scams depending on the time of year. It’s no surprise that tax season is also tax scam season.
Getting personal
In an email to Komando.com, Seattle startup Hiya, which specializes in robocall-blocking algorithms and apps, detailed an “Eavesdropping Scam” making the rounds.
Here’s how the scam works: The robocall goes out to victims knowing they likely won’t answer (79% of unknown calls aren’t answered, according to Hiya). A voicemail is left in which the scammer is heard talking to someone else. They say something along the lines of “I’m trying to get ahold of them right now.”
The script is designed to pique your curiosity, being far removed from a recorded message about car warranties or the like. Without referring to any specific reason for calling, it seems less like a scam. The number also appears to be legitimate.
If you return the call, the scammer can take things further and offer fraudulent services such as tax relief. Hiya reports that U.S. consumers lost an average of $567 to phone scams last year. At its peak, the “Eavesdropping Scam” accounted for more than 30% of all calls monitored by Hiya.
RELATED: Delete your selfies from ID.me – You don’t need this to do your taxes
Hiya’s Adaptive AI detected the voicemail scam, which surfaced earlier this year, and was able to shut down the first wave by working with a third-party service provider. The company warns that the scam will come back as we get closer to Tax Day.
How to avoid falling victim
Some phone vigilance can go a long way to keep you safe from scammers. Here are some tips:
Do you have unclaimed tax money sitting around? It expires soon
The deadline for filing federal tax returns for the 2021 tax year is fast approaching. You have until Monday, April 18 but that doesn’t mean you should wait until the last minute.
Cryptocurrency has created a new situation for taxpayers. If you have received, sold or exchanged any virtual currency in 2021, you must report it to the IRS or risk prosecution. Tap or click here for our detailed report on how to answer the cryptocurrency question on this year’s tax forms.
Free money: How to find lost cash and accounts you're owed
About this time every year, I like to remind people to visit a few websites and get what’s rightfully theirs. Recently, Robert from Virginia called my national radio show to thank me for suggesting he search for lost money. He found out his deceased mother had $24,578 sitting in a bank account. He received the check in three weeks after proving he was heir to her estate.
4 ways to track down missing money you're owed
Somehow, money gets lost. We leave it in odd places, but given how hard we work for our paychecks, it’s hard to believe how easily we misplace our cash.
I’m talking about back wages, old 401Ks, bank failures, utility deposits, unclaimed life insurance, FHA refunds, undelivered tax refund checks – the list goes on and on, amounting to billions of dollars.