Hey, NJ: Beware of New Scam on Social
We've all seen many scams on social media. Almost every day a new one is popping up.
We've done stories about many of them.
There's the duct-cleaning scam and the garage door replacement scam. We've also seen many posts that claim Facebook is going to charge us for posting or they are going to sell our pictures (neither is true, by the way).
Now another new scam has made its way onto many of our Facebook pages, and the IRS warns you not to take the advice of Facebook posters.
Read More: The Growing Concern Of Identity Theft In New Jersey: Stay Informed (wfpg.com)
At the center of the warning, are posts with advice on how to file for self-employment tax credits.
Promoters claim that filing this so-called credit entitles those who are self-employed to large cash payouts for the period of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The posted information suggests that self-employed people may be entitled to $32,000.
This claim, according to the Internal Revenue Service, is not correct. IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel warns,
This is another misleading social media claim that’s fooling well-meaning taxpayers into thinking they’re due a big payday. People shouldn’t be misled by outlandish claims they see on social media. Before paying someone to file these claims, taxpayers should consult with a trusted tax professional to see if they meet the very limited eligibility scenarios.”
Now that the pandemic is behind us, scammers are everywhere, trying to take advantage of people looking to recover from the financial hardship the pandemic has caused.
This scam comes on the heels of another similar claim.
People began hearing claims about the Employee Retention Act. While this is a legitimate claim, most of the general public don't qualify for the benefit.
Read More: Stay Alert: New Jersey Scammers Targeting Families (wfpg.com)
The IRS strongly suggests that if you have questions, you should find a certified public accountant or call the IRS directly. You should never depend on social media for advice.
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