ALL EMPLOYERS SHOULD BE ALERT TO A DANGEROUS FORM W-2 EMAIL SCAM. IT'S A THREAT TO TAX DATA AND TO YOUR WORKERS. THESE EMAILS APPEAR TO COME FROM SOMEONE IN AUTHORITY. THEY MAY SAY SOMETHING LIKE…"I AM ANALYZING SOME REPORTS AND NEED A COPY OF OUR W-2'S FOR LAST YEAR. PLEASE SEND ASAP." ONCE THE W-2'S ARE IN THE CYBERCRIMINAL'S HANDS… THEY FILE FAKE TAX RETURNS FOR REFUNDS. ALL EMPLOYERS ARE AT RISK AND NEED TO EDUCATE THEIR EMPLOYEES. IT'S CRITICAL TO REPORT W-2 THEFTS TO THE IRS AND TO YOUR STATE TAX OFFICIALS. SEND AN EMAIL TO DATA-LOSS-AT-I-R-S-DOT-GOV. IN THE SUBJECT LINE… TYPE "W2 DATA LOSS." THEN… PROVIDE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION. FIND YOUR STATE'S CONTACT BY EMAILING THE FEDERATION OF TAX ADMINISTRATORS AT STATE-ALERT-AT-TAX-ADMIN-DOT ORG. FORWARD ANY W-2 AND IRS-RELATED SCAM EMAILS TO PHISHING-AT-I-R-S-DOT-GOV. FINALLY… REVIEW YOUR COMPANY POLICIES FOR SHARING EMPLOYEE W-2 DATA. CONSIDER HAVING TWO PEOPLE REVIEW THE REQUEST FOR W-2 DATA TO SEE IF IT'S LEGITIMATE BEFORE APPROVING DISTRIBUTION. AS PART OF THAT REVIEW… CALL OR MEET WITH THE PERSON OR OFFICE REQUESTING THE DATA TO VERIFY THEY ASKED FOR IT. REMEMBER… IT'S ALWAYS BETTER TO DOUBLE CHECK IT THAN REGRET IT. EVERYONE CAN HELP PROTECT AGAINST W-2 SCAMS. FOR MORE INFORMATION … GO TO I-R-S-DOT-GOV-SLASH-IDENTITY-THEFT AND SEE THE "BUSINESSES" SECTION.
