Mussman Urges Residents to be Cautious of Scammers During Extended Tax Season

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. – To help residents protect themselves from identity thieves and other scammers, state Rep. Michelle Mussman, D-Schaumburg, is urging residents to be extra cautious and alert for potential scams during the tax filing season that was extended due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

“It is important to be diligent about protecting personal and financial information, especially now that the tax filing season has been extended and families are facing so much uncertainty,” said Mussman. “I urge residents to be cautious of unfamiliar emails or callers asking for personal information, because unfortunately there are bad actors out there looking to take advantage of our families and use this crisis for their own personal gain.”

Mussman is calling on residents to be alert for possible financial predators and use increased caution when giving out any information online or on the phone, shred documents with personal and financial details and regularly update passwords. Anyone who believes they may have been contacted by a scammer should contact law enforcement authorities and file a report with the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) at https://www2.illinois.gov/rev/programs/fraud/Pages/fraudreport.aspx.

“As businesses have had to temporarily close their doors and unemployment rates continue to skyrocket, so many families are looking for financial relief. Now more than ever it is important to be on high alert for scams or deals that sound too good to be true,” continued Mussman. “I will continue supporting our local law enforcement to crack down on criminals that prey upon our families.”