IRS-CI Atlanta Field Office reminding taxpayers to protect themselves from fraud schemes during International Fraud Awareness Week

The IRS Criminal Investigation Atlanta Field Office is focusing the public's attention to antifraud awareness by highlighting how to choose a reputable tax preparer and avoiding cryptocurrency scams as part of the 2024 International Fraud Awareness Week, Nov. 17 – 23.

"There are numerous schemes criminals are using to defraud and separate unsuspecting Americans from their hard-earned money," said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS-CI Atlanta Field Office. "While our special agents are continuously investigating and the U.S. Attorney's Office prosecuting criminals for these crimes, we also want to use this opportunity during International Fraud Awareness Week to bring awareness to help citizens protect themselves from becoming victims of these schemes."

As 2024 comes to an end and the official tax season begins in January next year, it is a favorable time for people to begin researching reputable tax preparers. While most preparers provide excellent service to their clients, a few unscrupulous individuals file false and fraudulent tax returns and ultimately defraud their clients.

Return preparer fraud generally involves the preparation and filing of false income tax returns by preparers who claim inflated personal or business expenses, false deductions, unallowable credits, or excessive exemptions on returns prepared for their clients.

"One of the ways taxpayers can protect themselves from fraudulent tax preparers is to look for those who are in business year-round," Hardeman said. "Not using an established tax preparer can cause problems for the taxpayer if they need to contact them after the filing season is over."

More information on choosing reputable tax preparers can be found at https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-reminds-taxpayers-choose-a-tax-professional-carefully.

With more people investing in cryptocurrency, being vigilant in protecting themselves from schemes designed to trick them into providing access to their digital wallets is important. The pig butchering scheme is one way that criminals obtain digital currency from their victims. Criminals use romance scams on social media to trick victims to invest in cryptocurrency trading platforms. When victims attempt to cash out, the criminals seize their funds.

In September, an indictment was unsealed charging two people with conspiracy to steal and launder over $230 million in cryptocurrency from a victim in Washington, D.C.

Individuals should be aware of these red flags:

A long-lost contact or stranger sends you a message on social media.

You are urged to send money to an investment platform that is similar but does not match the platform's official website address. This is called typo-squatting.

You have an online romantic interest who asks you to send payment to them or an investment platform in cryptocurrency.

You embark on an online romantic relationship, and your love interest guarantees profits or big returns if you invest with them.

A romantic interest reaches out to you through an online messaging application like WhatsApp with account numbers so you can transfer of funds.

IRS-CI encourages the public to share information regarding known or suspected tax and financial fraud. To report a suspected crime, taxpayers may visit IRS.gov or contact the CI Atlanta Field Office by email at atlantafieldoffice@ci.irs.gov.

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CI special agents are the only federal law enforcement agents with investigative jurisdiction over violations of the Internal Revenue Code, obtaining a more than a 90% federal conviction rate. The agency has 20 field offices located across the U.S. and 12 attaché posts abroad. The Atlanta Field Office covers the states of Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi. You can reach the Atlanta Field Office at atlantafieldoffice@ci.irs.gov and on the IRS-CI Atlanta Field Office LinkedIn.