Hackers file fake tax returns in scheme to steal IRS refunds

It may be open season for coronavirus scammers, but tax frauds aren’t letting up, either. Attackers tried obtaining large tax refunds by posing as clients of Weber and Company, the California-based accounting firm revealed last week. The scammers apparently accessed clients’ personal data — including, perhaps, Social Security numbers and bank account information — and used that to file fraudulent returns, Weber and Company said in a notification to California’s attorney general. The IRS and the FBI are investigating the matter, the company said. The number of attempted IRS scams tends to increase every year in March and April in the U.S., as legions of crooks try to steal Americans’ refunds. Earlier this month, the IRS said attackers exploiting the COVID-19 crisis could use stolen data to commit tax fraud. In 2016, the IRS said attackers had attempted to breach its online filing portal and steal Social Security numbers. For years, lawmakers have debated the proper response to incidents of this kind. It was not immediately clear […]

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California Proposal for Mandatory Cyber Insurance

Will California’s bill to force cyber insurance be a harbinger for the rest of the U.S.? On Feb. 15, California Assemblyman Ed Chau, representing the Western San Gabriel Valley (near President Nixon’s old stomping ground of Whittier) introduced … Continue reading California Proposal for Mandatory Cyber Insurance

Ring Mandates Two-Factor Authentication, License Plate Reader Data Sharing, RSA Conference Coronavirus Fears

In episode 109 for February 24th 2020: Kevin Johnson joins us to discuss how Ring made two-factor authentication mandatory following recent hacking incidents, California police have been caught illegally sharing license plate reader data, and details o… Continue reading Ring Mandates Two-Factor Authentication, License Plate Reader Data Sharing, RSA Conference Coronavirus Fears

Ring Mandates Two-Factor Authentication, License Plate Reader Data Sharing, RSA Conference Coronavirus Fears

In episode 109 for February 24th 2020: Kevin Johnson joins us to discuss how Ring made two-factor authentication mandatory following recent hacking incidents, California police have been caught illegally sharing license plate reader data, and details o… Continue reading Ring Mandates Two-Factor Authentication, License Plate Reader Data Sharing, RSA Conference Coronavirus Fears

Americans would pay up front to keep their online identity and data private

2020 is off to a good start in the United States, with rising consumer awareness about privacy matters, according to new research published on National Data Privacy Day. After America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) showed in a recent study that … Continue reading Americans would pay up front to keep their online identity and data private

New California Data Privacy Law, Wyze Data Leak, ToTok Spy App

In episode 102: Details on the new California data privacy law, the Wyze data leak, and what is the ToTok app and could it be spying on you? ** Show notes and links mentioned on the show ** Enter our Silent Pocket New Year’s Giveaway – Dead… Continue reading New California Data Privacy Law, Wyze Data Leak, ToTok Spy App

Lawsuit alleges TikTok sends user videos to Chinese servers for surveillance

A college student from Palo Alto, California is suing video-sharing service TikTok for allegedly using surveillance software designed to harvest personally identifiable information, including biometric data, and send it to China for reasons other than … Continue reading Lawsuit alleges TikTok sends user videos to Chinese servers for surveillance

California’s Domino Effect on U.S. Privacy Regulation

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which goes into effect Jan. 1, will have a longstanding impact on privacy regulation across the U.S., a security expert says. Continue reading California’s Domino Effect on U.S. Privacy Regulation