security - Linkenheimer LLP CPAs & Advisors

The New Face of Digital Deception: How AI is Changing the Scam Game (And How to Stay Ahead)

Remember when scam emails were easy to spot? The Nigerian prince with questionable grammar? Those days are rapidly becoming quaint, nostalgic memories. Today’s digital threats are wearing sophisticated masks, powered by the same AI tools revolutionizing legitimate business. But here’s the good news: understanding these evolving threats is your first line of defense.

The AI Revolution Cuts Both Ways

While we’re leveraging AI to streamline processes and increase work life balance, bad actors are using similar tools to craft increasingly convincing schemes. The technology that helps us serve our clients better is, unfortunately, also making scammers more dangerous.

But knowledge is power, and that’s exactly what we’re sharing today.

The New Threats on Your Digital Doorstep

1. The California FTB Text Scam: A Real-Time Warning

Right now, Californians are being bombarded with fake text messages claiming to be from the Franchise Tax Board about tax refunds. An example would be: “Your tax refund has been processed, click here to provide bank details.” It’s 100% fake. The FTB never texts about refunds—period. These scams use […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2025-09-09T17:20:17+00:00September 9th, 2025|AI, scams, Tech|0 Comments

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

Enhancing Mobile Security for Your Business: Protecting Data on the Go

In today’s fast-paced business environment, mobile devices have become indispensable tools for staying connected and maintaining productivity. From emails to accessing financial data, we rely on our smartphones and tablets to get things done anytime, anywhere. However, with the convenience of mobile technology comes the increased risk of data breaches, cyber-attacks, and compromised sensitive information.

Here are key strategies to enhance your business’s mobile security and protect critical data:

1. Implement a Mobile Device Management (MDM) Solution

Mobile Device Management software helps companies manage, secure, and control mobile devices that access corporate data. MDM enables you to enforce security policies, remotely wipe lost or stolen devices, and monitor for potential threats.

Why It Matters: MDM ensures that sensitive business data remains protected, even if a device is lost, stolen, or used in unsecured networks.
Pro Tip: Implement encryption protocols and require multifactor authentication (MFA) for accessing corporate apps.

2. Regular Software Updates Are Critical

Outdated software can leave mobile devices vulnerable to malware and cyber-attacks. Make sure that both your company-issued devices and employee-owned devices (used for work) are always up to date.

Why It Matters: Cybercriminals often exploit vulnerabilities in outdated software. Regular updates provide essential […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2024-09-24T21:35:20+00:00September 24th, 2024|Tech|0 Comments

IRS Issues Warning About Coronavirus-Related Scams

The IRS warned taxpayers to watch out for emails, text messages, websites, and social media attempts related to the coronavirus that request money or personal information. Taxpayers should not click on links from emails that appear to come from the IRS. The IRS and its Criminal Investigation Division have seen a wave of new and evolving phishing schemes against taxpayers. In most cases, the IRS will deposit economic impact payments into the direct deposit account taxpayers previously provided on tax returns. Taxpayers who have previously filed but not provided direct deposit information to the IRS will be able to provide their banking information through a newly designed secure portal on www.irs.gov in mid-April. If the IRS does not have a taxpayer’s direct deposit information, a check will be mailed to the address on file. No one from the IRS will be reaching out to taxpayers by phone, email, mail, or in person asking for information to complete economic impact payments. If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to your Linkenheimer CPA.

By Linkenheimer LLP|2020-09-03T20:03:10+00:00April 6th, 2020|irs|0 Comments