Protect yourself from identity theft this coming tax season and year! This increasing problem can be combated with these sound tips, and steps outlined below:

• Protect your mobile device. There are good apps to help you bank, track your money, & even do your taxes on your mobile phone. First, do your homework on the company... BBB, google and read reviews, etc. to make sure it is a reputable company. Second, be aware of what the app does and what information it may access on your mobile device.

• Be aware of what you share. Lets face it, we live in a world of increasing social media and networks. Don't post or share your SSN, date of birth, birth place, address, or phone numbers. These can be used to authenticate a person's identity... making you more susceptible to identity theft.

• Keep sensitive personal & financial documents secure. If you keep hard copies for your records, store them in a safe location. Shred or incinerate financial & tax documents upon disposal. If your information is stored on your computer, use a firewall, antivirus, and antispy software, keep it up-to-date, and secure your wireless network. If disposing of your computer, physically remove the hard drives, storage disks, and/or memory boards and destroy them or google computer clean/erase & disposal services and leave it to the pros. Again, do your homework... and don't just pick a company. Also, don't carry around your social security card.

• Create strong passwords & update them regularly. Strong passwords consist of some capital letters, and at least one numeric or other non alphabetical character (Ex. !, ?, #, %, etc.).

• Check your credit report. You are entitled to one free credit report each year. The information is compiled from the three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, & Transunion. Check your information for errors. If any information is found to be compromised, notify the three major credit bureaus to put a security freeze on your files & information.

• Don't fall for phishing scams. These email scams can come from a party claiming to be a trustworthy entity (Ex. your bank, and the scammers can have official looking logos and webpage design too) asking you to click a link and confirm some personal data. Never give details like you address, account numbers, or social security numbers for an email link. Reputable companies will never ask you to provide personal & sensitive information without first signing into your account behind a secure firewall. The IRS will never communicate or request personal information via an unsolicited email. The IRS never calls you. All communications from the IRS are sent via U.S.Post Office by mail. Don't open or forward emails claiming to be from the IRS; instead, forward them to phishing@IRS.gov

If you believe your identity has been stolen, put a hold on bank and credit accounts, change commonly used passwords, and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). In addition, if you think a fraudulent tax return has been filed with your SSN or you may be at risk due to you losing your wallet or purse, it being stolen, questionable credit card activity, or errors in your credit report, contact the IRS Identity Theft Protection Unit at 1-800-908-44490.

For more information and other helpful tax and financial tips go to Tax Tips at Solid Tax Services. Thank you.

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