Tax officials warn Georgia shoppers to avoid scams while shopping

Holiday shoppers should be vigilant about scams to steal their private information and income tax refunds.

That’s the warning delivered Monday by the Georgia Department of Revenue Commissioner Lynne Riley and the IRS, which are trying to crack down on tax fraud.

Customers shouldn’t click on suspicious links in their emails, carry their Social Security cards with them or answer phone calls from thieves posing as legitimate organizations, they said. Personal information could be used to file fraudulent 2018 income tax returns. The state has blocked $118 million in fraudulent refund claims so far this year.

“Whenever you’re shopping for gifts, criminals are shopping for your credit card data, your financial data, your Social Security number and other sensitive data that could help them file a fraudulent tax return,” Riley said.

Support real journalism. Support local journalism. Subscribe to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution today. See offers.

Your subscription to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution funds in-depth reporting and investigations that keep you informed. Thank you for supporting real journalism.

Download the new AJC app. More local news, more breaking news and in-depth journalism.
AJC.com. Atlanta. News. Now.