Protecting Vulnerable Seniors
Montgomery County State's Attorney, John McCarthy, created the Crimes Against Seniors and Vulnerable Adults unit (CASVA) to focus on the protection of seniors from financial and physical crimes.
We will be hosting informational events in partnership with the Office of Consumer Protection at Senior Communities throughout the month of April, including those listed here:
Please join us for these interactive presentations by State’s Attorney McCarthy, and Eric Friedman, Director of the Office of Consumer Protection. They will discuss common fraudulent activities, scams and other types of financial exploitation that target seniors and how to protect yourself and your loved ones. Awareness and prevention is the first step in safeguarding your assets. Planning ahead for financial wellbeing and the possibility of diminished financial capacity is critical. Reporting and early intervention that results in loss prevention is imperative. Please join us for this informative session to learn more!
Senior citizens and those who care for them need to be on alert for tax scams targeting older Americans. In an effort to make filing taxes easier, the IRS reminds seniors born before Jan. 2, 1956 that the IRS has re-designed the Form 1040 and its instructions, and that they can use the Form 1040SR and related instructions.
In addition, scammers are taking advantage of fears surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is a list of COVID-19 Scams to Watch Out For which includes some helpful resources.
Immigrant Fraud
According to the IRS, impersonators and other scammers are known to target groups with limited English proficiency.
As phone scams pose a major threat to people with limited access to information, including individuals not entirely comfortable with the English language, the IRS has added new features to help those who are more comfortable in a language other than English. The Schedule LEP PDF allows a taxpayer to select in which language they wish to communicate. Once they complete and submit the schedule, they will receive future communications in that selected language preference.
Additionally, the IRS is providing tax information, forms and publications in many languages other than English. Your Federal Income Tax, is now available in Spanish, Chinese (simplified and traditional), Vietnamese, Korean and Russian.
Choosing a Tax Preparer
Beware of "Ghost Preparers."
According to the IRS, by law, anyone who is paid to prepare, or assists in preparing federal tax returns, must have a valid Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). Paid preparers must sign and include their PTIN on the return. Not signing a return is a red flag that the paid preparer may be looking to make a quick profit by promising a big refund or charging fees based on the size of the refund.
Unscrupulous tax return preparers may also:
- Require payment in cash only and will not provide a receipt.
- Invent income to qualify their clients for tax credits.
- Claim fake deductions to boost the size of the refund.
- Direct refunds into their bank account, not the taxpayer's account.
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Romance Scams
When Mr./Mrs. Right Turns Out to be Mr./Mrs. Wrong!
It's Valentine’s Day and unfortunately, this time of year can bring an uptick in Romance Scams.
Con-artists create a false identity on dating apps/social media and use public data about you to reel you in. Their ultimate goal is to steal your money.
In 2020 alone over $304,000,000 was stolen.
According to the Office of Consumer Protection, scams on dating apps have been thriving during the pandemic.
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