A full service financial
cooperative proudly serving
Federal employees in Wisconsin

Federated Family Credit Union
Phone: (414) 278-7220 
Fax: (414) 278-0890

Main Office
626 E. Wisconsin Ave., Ste 102
Milwaukee, WI 53202

Beware Of These Common Tax Schemes

Unfortunately, there are unscrupulous people out there who have figured out that tax season is a great time to rob hard working people of their money. Here are some of the most common tax schemes:

• Phony Tax Payment Checks. Con artists sell you a check (that looks like a money order) to pay your tax bill. The checks are worthless and your funds are stolen.
   
• African-American Refund. This scam gets you to pay someone to prepare a tax form so that you will receive a credit related to reparations for slavery. Tens of thousands of African-Americans were cheated using this scam.
   
• Offshore Transactions. Common examples are offshore credit cards, trust or investment opportunities. The IRS now requires taxpayer's disclosure of these so-called “tax shelters”.
   
• Identity Theft. Thieves use tax documents to fool people into disclosing personal information. This information is then used to open credit cards and to steal your funds.
   
• Pay the Tax & Get the Prize . You are told you have won a prize and all you need to do to collect it is to pay the tax. Remember, payments go to the IRS and not to some unknown caller.
   
• Social Security Tax Scheme. You pay a paperwork fee and a percentage of any refund received and these scam artists claim they can get you a refund of the Social Security payments you have made.
   
• Phony IRS “Agent” Comes to your Home to Collect. All IRS agents carry proper ID and will normally contact you prior to any on-site visits.

Remember, if something sounds dubious (or even if it doesn't, but you're just not sure) a quick call to the IRS will clarify things. The IRS does not ask for personal identifying or financial information via unsolicited email. For more information on these and other schemes, log on to the IRS criminal enforcement page at www.IRS.gov.  [external link disclosure]

Anti-Theft Tools from Federated Family

• Beware Common Scams
• Spotting Investment Scams
• Phone Scams
• 14 Ways to Stop Identity Theft
• Identity Fraud Safety Quiz
• Stop Payment Form
• Don't Get Hooked by a Phishing Attack