Governor Warns of New and Evolving Tax Season Scams

Governor Andrew Cuomo is warning of a new scam that targets New York tax preparers and H.R. professionals.

According to the Governor these scams aim to steal confidential client and employee information. So far the New York State Tax Department identified at least 37 companies across New York State that have been targeted by identity thieves.

"As technology continues to advance, cyber thieves and scammers are using more and more sophisticated methods to try and steal personal information to defraud hardworking New Yorkers," Governor Cuomo said. "There must be zero tolerance for these schemes and I encourage everyone – especially those in these fields – to remain vigilant and immediately report any suspicious inquiries to state and local authorities."

State officials believe that more than 5,000 social security numbers may have been compromised. The Tax Department is in contact with the businesses and is working to protect the affected employees.

Acting Commissioner of the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Nonie Manion says it's important to vigilant about fraud, especially this time of year.

"Now that the income tax filing season is underway, criminals are eager to file bogus claims for tax refunds using stolen personal information. It’s critical that anyone handling someone’s personal information remain mindful of common scam techniques to avoid becoming victims."

If you feel you've been contacted by a scammer posing as an IRS agent pease contact the IRS. Or if you've been contacting my a con artist claiming to work for the NY State Tax Department contact them here. 

The Governor also warns of several other on-going scams that circle around tax season, for both professionals and tax payers. For a full list of scams and to learn how to prevent being victimized click here.