Named to the “Dirty Dozen” list of scams, “Spear Phishing,” has been highlighted in a press release issued by the IRS on June 9th. The agency warns that tax preparers and accountants may fall prey to these bogus emails that appear to be from tax preparation services alerting the recipient to unusual activity on an account. As stated in the article, they advise individuals to enjoy a well deserved break now that filing season is over but not to let down your, “IT defenses.” The article also offers this detailed list of further reading to help protect yourself and your business.
From the article, “For tips on cybersecurity for CPA tax practices, see Rood, “Professional Liability Spotlight: Don’t Get Victimized by a Cybercriminal,” JofA, October 2021; Odom, “Tax Clinic: Keeping Client Data Secure: How’s Your Cybersecurity Immunity?” The Tax Adviser, December 2021; and “Professional Responsibilities in Data Security for Tax Professionals,” AICPA Resources.”