Cherokee County, Georgia – Sheriff’s officials are urging residents to guard against tax-related fraud as filing season begins.
According to a public advisory issued this week by the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division Financial Crimes Unit, tax season is a peak period for scammers attempting identity theft and financial fraud. Officials say criminals often impersonate the IRS or tax professionals to obtain personal information or file fraudulent returns.
The sheriff’s office emphasized that the IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text message, or phone call. Any unsolicited communication requesting personal or financial information should be treated as a scam, investigators said.
Residents are encouraged to file tax returns as early as possible, as the IRS accepts the first valid return submitted, a step that can help prevent criminals from filing under stolen identities. Officials also warned taxpayers to watch for red flags such as urgent language, grammatical errors, or requests for immediate payment.
Additional recommendations include using IRS Identity Protection PINs, enabling multi-factor authentication on tax, financial, and email accounts, and monitoring credit reports for suspicious activity. The sheriff’s office also cautioned residents to be alert for emerging scams, including AI-generated emails, fake IRS documents, and messages tied to current news events.
Choosing reputable tax preparers is another key safeguard. Investigators advised residents to verify credentials carefully and remain cautious of promises of unusually large refunds.
If a resident believes they are a victim of tax fraud or identity theft, officials recommend contacting the IRS directly, filing IRS Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit), and reporting the incident to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line at 678-493-4080.
The warning is especially relevant for young workers and first-time filers, who may be less familiar with IRS communication practices.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input.
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