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IRS, Security Summit Partners Urge People to Watch Out for Bad Tax Advice on Social Media

The Internal Revenue Service and the Security Summit partners issued a consumer alert about the growing threat of bad tax advice on social media that continues to dupe people into filing inaccurate tax returns.

The IRS and the Security Summit partners are spotlighting the wildly inaccurate tax claims that continue building across social media. These scams take many different forms and make outlandish promises to inflate refunds.

“The growth of bad tax advice on social media continues to grow, luring unsuspecting taxpayers into filing bad tax returns,” said IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel. “We urge people to do some research before falling for these scams. Finding a trusted tax professional or visiting IRS.gov is a better way to research a tax issue than relying on someone talking in their car or their kitchen about a non-existent tax hack.”

For years, members of the Security Summit – representing state tax agencies, tax professionals, tax software companies, and the financial industry – have worked to raise awareness about tax-related identity theft and related tax scams. To counter this growing threat of tax scams, many of the Summit members have joined together to launch a related group, the Coalition […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2024-12-17T19:16:41+00:00December 17th, 2024|irs, IT, Tech|0 Comments

Tech Tuesday: Enhancing Collaboration with Cloud Computing

In the current business landscape, collaboration and integration across various functions are more than just a convenience—they are a necessity. Cloud computing has emerged as a pivotal force in enabling this shift, offering tools and platforms that streamline operations, foster real-time communication, and ensure data consistency across departments. This article explores the collaborative benefits of leveraging cloud-based solutions, focusing on Office 365, HR software, inventory management systems, and QuickBooks Online, to create a cohesive and efficient work environment.

Office 365: The Hub for Teamwork

Office 365, with its comprehensive suite of productivity tools, serves as the backbone for business collaboration. It goes beyond the traditional boundaries of individual software to offer a connected ecosystem where information flows seamlessly. Features like SharePoint for document management and Teams for communication enable employees to collaborate on projects in real time, share insights, and make decisions faster. Integration with other cloud services means that financial data, HR information, and inventory statuses can be easily shared and accessed within the same environment, enhancing cross-departmental synergy.

HR Software: Streamlining Human Resources

Modern HR software solutions like Bamboo HR, designed with cloud-based architecture, revolutionize how companies manage their workforce. From recruitment and onboarding […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2024-02-20T16:17:22+00:00February 20th, 2024|IT, Tech|0 Comments

Tech Tuesday: Secure Your Data in a Remote Work Environment

As businesses transition to remote or hybrid work models, securing sensitive information becomes a paramount concern. The nature of remote work, often conducted over home Wi-Fi networks or in public spaces, introduces vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can exploit. Here are detailed strategies and tools to protect your organization’s data:

Use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is essential for securing internet connections, especially when employees access company resources from home or public Wi-Fi. A VPN encrypts data transmission, making it difficult for unauthorized parties to intercept or eavesdrop on your internet activity. Encourage employees to always use a VPN when conducting work-related tasks online. Popular VPN services include NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Cisco AnyConnect, all offering robust encryption and security features.

Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Multi-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security beyond just a password. It requires users to provide two or more verification factors to gain access to a resource, such as a code sent to a mobile device or a fingerprint scan. Implementing MFA across all your business applications and platforms significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access. Services like Duo Security, Microsoft Authenticator, or Google Authenticator can easily integrate […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2024-02-06T16:43:45+00:00February 6th, 2024|IT, Tech, technology|0 Comments

Office 365 Tips and Tricks to Elevate Your Communication and Efficiency

In today’s fast-paced business environment, Office 365 stands out as a cornerstone for communication and efficiency. Beyond its well-known features, there are numerous hidden gems within Office 365 that can significantly enhance your productivity. This article explores some of these lesser-known tips and tricks.

Section 1: Mastering Efficient Email Management with Outlook

Focused Inbox: To activate Focused Inbox in Outlook, go to the ‘View’ tab, and click on ‘Show Focused Inbox’. This feature sorts your emails into two tabs, focusing on the most important ones.
Scheduling Emails: Compose your email as usual, then instead of clicking ‘Send’, select the dropdown arrow next to it and choose ‘Send later’ to specify the desired send time.
Email Templates: For creating a template, draft an email, then go to ‘File’ > ‘Save as’ > ‘Outlook Template’. To use it, go to ‘New Items’ > ‘More Items’ > ‘Choose Form’ and select ‘User Templates in File System’.

Section 2: Enhancing Team Collaboration with Microsoft Teams

Background Blur and Custom Backgrounds: During a video call, click on the ‘…’ (more options) and select ‘Show background effects’ to blur or change your background.
Using @mentions: Type ‘@’ followed by the […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2024-01-23T16:50:34+00:00January 23rd, 2024|IT, Tech, technology|0 Comments

Be Aware of Business Email Compromise Hacks and Phishing Attempts

We have been seeing an increase in criminal cyber-fraud schemes affecting both large and small businesses, individuals and banks. With the increase in remote work, online payments and email usage, a common fraud we are seeing more of is criminals are using a Business Email Compromise (BEC) hack as a way of posing as the company sending the invoice to the recipient, then upon payment, the payors account gets drained with little to no trace of the criminal tied to the fraud.

So how does it work and what is a BEC?

Business email compromise (BEC) or “phishing” is a technique used to gain access to your company email so criminals can impersonate a co-worker, manager or other trusted business partner to steal sensitive data and money. With access to your business email accounts, criminals can steal money through fraudulent wire transfer requests, fake invoices, diverting payroll and more. Protecting your email is essential. BEC emails usually contain no malware and are therefore difficult to detect with common email filtering means.

How does a typical BEC scam work?

A common technique is email spoofing. Email spoofing occurs when the email appears to be sent by a […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2022-11-09T21:50:15+00:00November 9th, 2022|IT|0 Comments