SYRACUSE -- The clock is ticking - have you filed your federal and state income taxes?
The deadline is Monday, and time is running out to complete your 1040s. But, some people have their eyes on the prize - the refund check - and that's your Facebook Story of the Day.
We asked you to choose what you wanted to learn more about, and overwhelmingly people voted for tax day freebies. Many businesses try to take advantage of people's extra cash by getting them into the door with free offerings. The offers, according to USA Today, range from discounted bagels at Bruegger's to free workouts at Bally's Total Fitness to free memberships to dating websites like Chemistry.com.
Click here to see the list of tax day freebies.
For every good deal there are caveats. If you're looking to get your hands on a refund early, there are warnings about business offering tax day loans to get your hands on cash fast. Click here to read more on tax refund loans.
With the tax deadline approaching, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is urging taxpayers to watch out for phishing scams. He's asking everyone notify his office of any unsolicited email messages disguised as official communications from the IRS or tax preparation companies, designed to steal your personal and financial information. The AG's office says it's a growing problem during tax season.
"For many New Yorkers, the internet has revolutionized tax filing, but unfortunately, it also has opened the door for high-tech scams that can devastate the lives of unsuspecting consumers. Unsolicited emails from the 'IRS' may be fraudulent, and consumers should be careful before they divulge personal or financial information to anyone," said Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman. "Tax season is stressful enough, and the last thing New Yorkers need to worry about is having their identities stolen with the click of a mouse. We ask all New Yorkers to please contact our office if they detect scams of this nature."
Here's how the "phishing" scam works:
Most involve official-looking messages, sometimes emblazoned with logos of the IRS, U.S. Treasury Department or other tax preparation services, that direct consumers to a website that looks like an authentic government or business site. The consumer is then prompted to provide information to "update" his or her account, which is then used by scam artists to establish credit, make purchases, apply for loans or even seek employment.
Here are some common warning signs for a phishing tax scam:
*Emails purportedly from the IRS or tax service provider citing a problem with your tax forms
*Requests to divulge personal information, including your Social Security or credit card numbers
*Instructions to click on links directing you to a third-party website
*Threats that you will not receive your tax refund, or will be reported delinquent, if you do not follow the email's instructions
The IRS does not send out unsolicited emails or ask consumers to divulge detailed personal information and will not ask you for PIN numbers, passwords or other secret access information for their credit card, bank or other financial accounts.
If you receive suspicious emails or other tax preparation scams, contact the Attorney General's Office at: 1-800-771-7755.
To vote on our Facebook Story of the Day, all you have to do is log onto Facebook, search for CNY Central, and 'like' our page. The story choices are posted every weekday morning by 6:00 a.m.
