Love E-filing? Here’s What You Need to Know to Protect Yourself From Tax-Related Fraud

As we dive deeper into the “digital age” many more of us are turning to online resources to file our tax returns. And why not? It saves time and money, makes the task of gathering information about our expenses, assets, income and relevant tax codes less daunting and allows us to receive tax refunds more quickly. According to the IRS, 90% of online filers receive their refunds within three weeks or less, as opposed to paper filers whose returns often take much longer to process (not to mention that there’s no sure-fire way to know whether your return has even been received).

Even the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) advocates for electronically filed tax returns over paper, and has reported a 7.5% increase in self-prepared taxes in 2014,compared to 2013.  

As we prepare for tax season, however, it’s important to stay informed about scams that target e-filers. The IRS is warning about new tax phishing scams. Phishing can be described as “the fraudulent practice of sending emails purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers.” These malicious messages vary, but they are all after one common goal: monetary profit.

Individuals sending e-mails like the one above aim to collect as much personal information (i.e. your name and Social Security number) as possible, in order to file a fake tax return and collect a refund.  The scammers disguise their identity, impersonating IRS officials, TurboTax, and other companies/organizations alike, claiming they need your personal information so you may successfully file taxes online or receive a tax return.

Most of these e-mails lead the message recipients to select a link where they complete a form about themselves, while in other situations, a link can download malware (malicious software) onto a computer, compromising the stored information within the device.

The IRS advises taxpayers to ignore these fraudulent e-mails, urging users to avoid clicking on these suspicious links. The IRS, by the way, will never contact you via e-mail to ask for your personal or financial details. If you’re suspicious about a message you’ve received, send it to phishing@irs.gov.    

Filing your taxes online provides tremendous cost savings and other benefits, but it’s always prudent to be aware of activities that appear suspicious. QUESTION the things you see online, CHECK for validity, and ASK your friends or neighbors.

Resources to help keep you safe:

To obtain more information on other tax-related scams, you can learn more here: http://tinyurl.com/hvvny4g

What if you have already fallen victim of your tax refunds being stolen? Find out ways you can recover: http://tinyurl.com/hotl4zz

The Piers Project is funded by a gift from the family estate of Ellie Piers to benefit the FrontPorch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing’s (CIW’s) ongoing mission of using technology to enhance wellbeing among older adults. Piers lived at Carlsbad By The Sea, a Front Porch retirement community in Carlsbad, CA. Her contribution allows the CIW to address cyber security through education, training, and the use of technologies that promote Internet safety, especially in the greater San Diego area.

Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing Hosts Twitter Chat On Cyber Security

On October 6th, 2016, in honor of National Cyber Security Awareness Month, the Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing hosted a Twitter chat (#SrCyberChat), along with partners, AARP Fraud Watch Network (@aarpca) HelloTech (@hellotech), Serving Seniors (@servingseniors), St. Barnabas Senior Services (@SBSSla) to facilitate greater awareness of cyber security issues affecting older adults. 

This chat was part of the Piers Project, funded by a gift from the family estate of Ellie Piers to benefit the Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing’s ongoing mission of using technology to enhance wellbeing among older adults. Piers lived at Carlsbad By The Sea, a Front Porch retirement community in Carlsbad, CA. 

What follows is a transcript of our discussion. Enjoy!

The Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing to host Twitter Chat on Cyber Security

The Internet offers us some amazing benefits—we can communicate instantly with loved ones, share priceless moments with friends, quickly pay bills and experience a level of convenience never before available. But with this ever-expanding world of access to information and resources, it’s important to stay educated on how to protect ourselves and our privacy online. 

According to U.S. Department of Homeland Security, many of the crimes that occur in real life are now done or facilitated through the Internet. Theft, abuse, and more can now all be done online. Particularly alarming is the fact that many scammers target older adults and prey upon their vulnerability via emails and websites in such forms as charitable donations, dating services, auctions, health care, and prescription medicine. 

Consider these statistics affecting older Americans today:

• 59% of Americans aged 65 and above are reported to use the Internet[i] 
• Only 1 in 14 cases of elder abuse are brought to the attention of authorities[ii]
• In 2010, for every incident of violent crime, three incidents of Internet crime were committed against seniors[iii]
• Older adults lost $2.9 billion to financial abuse in 2011[iv]

What is the Piers Project?

Through education, training, and the use of technologies that promote Internet safety the Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing hopes to facilitate greater awareness of cyber security issues affecting older adults. The Piers Project is funded by a gift from the family estate of Ellie Piers to benefit the Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing’s (CIW) ongoing mission of using technology to enhance wellbeing among older adults. Piers lived at Carlsbad By The Sea, a Front Porch retirement community in Carlsbad, CA.

Who will be participating?

There will be a panel representing several different organizations participating, including cyber security experts and senior service providers. The panel will address key issues/topics of cyber security among the older adult population.

Just a few of our partners that will be joining the conversation are: AARP Fraud Watch  Network (@aarpca) HelloTech  (@hellotech), Serving Seniors (@servingseniors)

St. Barnabas Senior Services (@SBSSla)

Why join and follow the chat live?

To gain more knowledge and share our findings with older adults, senior service providers, and others in the field of aging. The Piers Project initiative is our call to action!

Some sample questions discussed throughout the live chat will be:

Q1 What do you think are some common online/email scams targeting seniors today?

Q2 What makes older adults vulnerable to online fraud? 

Q3 What do you think contributes to the growing number of unreported fraud among older adults?

Q4 What can we do to help seniors avoid fear of using the Internet and promote safe online behavior?

Q5 What are some best practices in online safety that older adults can use to better protect themselves?

Q6 What can organizations serving older adult communities do to help spread awareness of cyber security and elder abuse online?

Q7 What educational resources or tips would you suggest for the preservation of cyber security?

Come prepared for a meaningful dialogue and sharing of ideas, information, tools and helpful tips!

How do you join?

Join @FrontPorchCS and search for #SrCyberChat on Thursday, October 6th from 10-11:00A.M. Pacific Standard Time. For more information on National Cyber Security Awareness Month visit https://www.dhs.gov/national-cyber-security-awareness-month)

[i] Smith, Aaron. “Older Adults and Technology use.” Pew Internet Center, 3 Apr. 2014. Web. 4 Jan. 2016. http://www.pewinternet.org/files/2014/04/PIP_Seniors-and-Tech-Use_040314.pdf

[ii] Bonnie, Richard J. and Wallace, Robert B. “Elder mistreatment: Abuse, neglect and exploitation in an aging America.” The National Academies Press, 2003. Web. 4 Jan. 2016. http://www.nap.edu/read/10406/chapter/1

[iii] Bick, Jonathan. “Internet Crime and the Elderly: Enhanced penalties could prevent online targeting of senior citizens.” New Jersey Law Journal, 1 Aug 2011. Web. 4 Jan. 2016. http://www.bicklaw.com/publications/e-elderlaw.htm

[iv] MetLife Mature Market Institute. “MetLife Study of Elder Financial Abuse: Crimes of occasion, desperation, and predation against America’s Elders.” National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, 2011. Web. 4 Jan. 2016. https://www.metlife.com/assets/cao/mmi/publications/studies/2011/mmi-elder-financial-abuse.pdf 

   

 

Protect Yourself from Health Care Scams

The Piers Project, an internet safety awareness campaign of the Center for Innovation and Wellbeing, offers helpful tips on how to stay safe online.

The Internet offers an abundance of health information resources that help consumers make more informed choices—it provides us with access to researching health conditions, medications, health services, and the ability to sign up for health plans. However, as it’s the case with many open marketplaces, it’s also important to know how to spot healthcare fraud.

Health care scams come in different forms, such as falsely presented television ads, phone calls, e-mails, or other schemes that claim the need for additional healthcare identification cards due to newly established laws. Questionable service vendors may also lure consumers through the promise of significant discounts on health insurance costs. Other types of scammers may impersonate government officials, requesting Medicare identification numbers from older adults to send updated beneficiary cards. It’s important to always remain cautious and knowledgeable of current events, as scammers often plan to execute their attacks when Medicare and other national health programs undergo changes that are widely discussed throughout the media.

Here are some tips we would like to pass on to you:

- Research to confirm if statements made are actually correct. Prior to sharing your private information, contact Medicare (1-800-MEDICARE) to confirm the mentioned changes or requests. Share what you know or have learned with your friends and relatives.

- If you are looking for medical discount plans, keep in mind that they are not a substitute for health insurance. Medical discount plans typically offer coverage for services your insurance would not reimburse. Research further to validate licensure regarding the plan.

• To research the most recent health plans and associated costs, visit: https://www.healthcare.gov/apply-and-enroll/health-insurance-plans-estimator-overview/
• To find assistance when shopping for health insurance, visit: https://www.healthcare.gov/apply-and-enroll/get-help-applying/

- Exercise caution when you are shopping for products or services that specifically target older adults such as: health insurance packages, beauty or “anti-aging” products, medications and dietary/vitamin supplements, fitness equipment, medical treatments, therapies, or surgeries.


To learn more about health scams, please be sure to visit The Federal Trade Commission: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0394-suspect-health-care-scam


The Piers Project is funded by a gift from the family estate of Ellie Piers to benefit the Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing’s (CIW’s) ongoing mission of using technology to enhance wellbeing among older adults. Piers lived at Carlsbad by the Sea, a Front Porch retirement community in Carlsbad, CA. Her contribution allows the CIW to address Cyber Security through education, training, and the use of technologies that promote Internet safety, especially in the Greater San Diego Area.

Front Porch CIW Offers Online Safety Tips

The Piers Project, an internet safety awareness campaign of the Center for Innovation and Wellbeing, offers helpful tips on how to stay safe online.

Did you know January 25 - 29 is also known as Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week? https://staysafeonline.org/blog/this-years-tax-identity-theft-awareness-week-is-january-25-28/. If you need assistance, AARP provides a free volunteer-based tax aide service for older adults above 50: http://www.aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp_taxaide/.

To some the Internet may seem to be the ultimate tool to manage finances. You can update accounts through online banking, make credit card purchases, and even manage personal investment funds. Although there are many benefits, it is important to exercise caution to stay safe online. With tax season approaching, we’d like to share a few strategies to successfully complete this yearly process.

-          Be cautious of requests for immediate payments or a specific payment method (i.e. prepaid debit card or cash) for taxes.

-          Legitimate agencies will not ask for your credit or debit card numbers over an email.

-          Download the IRS2Go application onto your smartphone or tablet. You can use this application from IRS to check your refund status, pay taxes, watch tax-related videos and receive tax tips. https://www.irs.gov/uac/IRS2GoApp

-          To check how knowledgeable you are regarding this topic, head to this link to take a short quiz! http://www.aarp.org/money/taxes/info-03-2013/can-the-irs-really-do-that.html#quest1

For more helpful tips during tax season, please visit:  https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5027.pdf

The Piers Project is funded by a gift from the family estate of Ellie Piers to benefit the Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing’s (CIW’s) ongoing mission of using technology to enhance wellbeing among older adults. Piers lived at Carlsbad by the Sea, a Front Porch retirement community in Carlsbad, CA. Her contribution allows the CIW to address Cyber Security through education, training, and the use of technologies that promote Internet safety, especially in the Greater San Diego Area.

Leave a Legacy and Change the Future

A message from Ross Merritt, CLH Foundation Executive

In our last issue of CLH Today we told you about some of the amazing ways your gifts have been used to benefit our residents and are meeting the needs of the community at-large. One of those stories explained how a gift from the estate of Carlsbad By The Sea resident Ellie Piers is being used to support cyber security for seniors. Ellie wanted part of her legacy to go toward protecting others from cyber criminals who often target older adults with financial scams. Thanks to a generous gift from her estate, the CLH-supported Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing has partnered with cyber security experts, law enforcement leaders and financial and technology firms to address this important problem. The ‘Piers Project’ is now moving forward with a collaborative effort in this much needed area.

Creating a Legacy to change the future does not need to be a difficult thing to do and often it is simply a matter of signing your name to a document (a Will or Revocable Living Trust) that leaves a charitable bequest to California Lutheran Homes and Community Services (CLH), or a Charitable Gift Annuity that pays you a fixed income for life, with mostly tax-free payments and a nice tax deduction. The remainder can be designated for an innovative idea like the ‘Piers Project.’ These are simple ways to help fund significant projects that can make a difference in the lives of those that come after us. We would love to discuss the possibilities with you!

If you would like to receive additional information about how you can leave a legacy, our programs and funding opportunities or hear more stories of how CLH is touching lives through social ministry, please contact me at 800-233-3709 or rmerritt@frontporch.net.


Sincerely,


Ross Merritt

CLH Foundation Executive

CALIFORNIALUTHERAN HOMES AND COMMUNITY SERVICES

California Lutheran Homes and Community Services (CLH) is a not-for-profit social ministry organization founded in 1947. CLH’s mission is meeting needs through ‘faith in action’ including support for residents of affordable housing communities managed by partner CARING Housing Ministries, and residents of Front Porch retirement communities, care centers and active-adult communities.  CLH-sponsored retirement and active-adult living communities include Carlsbad By The Sea in Carlsbad, CA; Walnut Village in Anaheim, CA, England Oaks in Alexandria, VA and Cecil Pines in Jacksonville, FL. Among the programs and services supported by CLH are the CLH Center for Spirituality and Aging, whose mission is to meet the needs of older adults based on the understanding that aging is a spiritual journey; the Front Porch Gallery, which creates community by promoting an understanding of aging through art; the Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing, which enhances wellbeing and quality of life through the adaptive use of technology; the CLH Auxiliary; and the Charitable Care Fund, which supports residents in need who have outlived their finances.  

Be Cyber Safe This Holiday Season

The Piers Project, an internet safety awareness campaign of the Center for Innovation and Wellbeing, offers helpful tips on how to stay safe online.
Are you planning a trip this holiday season? Understanding how, when, and where to use your mobile devices are important factors in keeping yourself protected during your travels. The Piers Project, an internet safety awareness campaign of the Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing, has gathered some helpful hints from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Stop. Think. Connect.^TM initiative.

Before You Leave:

• Update your mobile software and/or computer
• Back up your information on an external drive or cloud system
• Keep your devices locked when they are not in use

While Traveling:

• Avoid automatically connecting to public wireless networks
• Exercise caution before you connect to public wireless hotspot(s)
• Steer clear from clicking any unknown or suspicious links
• Be mindful of what you post while you are away on vacation—the more you share on websites like Facebook, the more likely you’ll be offering hints that nobody’s home!
• Avoid participating in data-sensitive activities, such as online shopping or viewing your bank/credit card accounts on publicly accessible computers and unsecured wireless networks
• Protect your mobile device(s) by keeping them near you at all times, especially in public spaces

Learn of more helpful tips and suggestions on protecting yourself online here. Happy and safe holiday travels!

The Piers Project is funded by a gift from the family estate of Ellie Piers to benefit the Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing’s (CIW’s) ongoing mission of using technology to enhance wellbeing among older adults. Piers lived at Carlsbad by the Sea, a Front Porch retirement community in Carlsbad, CA. Her contribution allows the CIW to address Cyber Security through education, training, and the use of technologies that promote Internet safety, especially in the Greater San Diego Area.