Some victims of recent natural disasters have lost their homes, vehicles and even their loved ones. But that doesn’t seem to stop fraudsters from kicking them while they’re down. The IRS warns disaster survivors to be wary of bad actors claiming to work for the government, particularly if they offer to help obtain tax refunds or file insurance claims. Victims are directed to call the IRS’s toll-free disaster assistance line at 866-562-5227 with their questions about tax filing extensions and other relief. Charitable donors wanting to help should also be alert to fraud. Verify that a charity is legitimate by visiting irs.gov and searching for “tax exempt organization search.”
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