INSIDE THIS ISSUE Fraud Alert Tax-Related Identity Theft Is On The Rise Go Pinterest-ing! Cool Stuff To Pin On Your Pinterest Boards This Month's FAQ What Can I Do To Protect The Privacy Of My Search History? Sites Of The Month Great Sites To Check Out In March Two To View A Couple Of Amazing Videos You Don't Want To Miss Short Tutorial What To Do If You Think Your Computer Has Malware |
Hello NCKCN internet members If the month of March had its own color, it would be green. Between the green shamrocks of St. Patrick's Day and the first green buds on trees, March is all about nature's favorite hue. In this issue, you'll find online resources for festive green cupcakes in the Pinterest section as well as tips for eating more green vegetables in Sites of the Month. This issue also includes a warning about tax-related email scams and how to prevent becoming a victim. You don't want someone stealing your identity — or your tax refund. Check out this month's FAQ for guidance on protecting the privacy of your Google search history. In the Short Tutorial, learn what to do if you think your computer has been infected with malware. And just for fun, we give you the green light to relax and watch the surprising videos in Two to View. The goal of each of our eNewsletters is to keep our subscribers informed regarding their Internet connection and to improve their Internet experience. We think you'll find this information interesting. To see what's inside this issue, simply scroll down the eNewsletter or click on the links within the index to the left. Thanks for reading! - The NCKCN Team |
Fraud Alert – Tax-Related Identity Theft Is On The Rise
The numbers are staggering. According to Congress' Government Accountability Office, the IRS detected 642,000 cases of identity theft in the first nine months of 2012, up from 242,000 in all of 2011. Nearly 16,000 taxpayers complained of problems related to identity theft to the Taxpayer Advocate in the first half of fiscal 2012, a 57 percent increase over the previous year.
Identity thieves use a taxpayer's identity, stolen by phishing emails or other methods, to fraudulently file a tax return and claim a refund. The legitimate taxpayer may be unaware that anything has happened until they file their return later in the filing season and discover two returns have been filed using the same Social Security number. What can you do to avoid becoming a target? First, beware of emails that appear to be from the IRS. The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email or social media tools to request personal or financial information. The IRS also does not send emails stating you are being electronically audited or that you are getting a refund. If you receive this type of email, you can assume it is fake. Ignore it or, better yet, forward it to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov. Visit www.irs.gov/uac/Identity-Protection for more details.
Go Pinterest-ing! – Cool Stuff To Pin On Your Pinterest Boards
This Month's FAQ – What Can I Do To Protect The Privacy Of My Search History?
Sites Of The Month – Great Sites To Check Out In March
Two To View – A Couple Of Amazing Videos You Don't Want To Miss
Short Tutorial – What To Do If You Think Your Computer Has Malware
Malware is short for "malicious software." It includes viruses and spyware that get installed on your computer without your consent. These programs can cause your device to crash and can be used to monitor and control your online activity. Criminals use malware to steal personal information, send spam, and commit fraud.
Your computer may be infected with malware if it:
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Thanks for your business! Thank You The Staff at NCKCN NCKCN - North Central Kansas Community Network 109 North Mill Beloit, KS 67420 785-738-2218 Trademarks: All brand names and product names used in this eNewsletter are trade names, service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. |