Tax season leads to easy pickings for cybercriminals, scammers

Tax season 2014 is well underway, and while some of you likely have filed your taxes, most Americans are still digging through receipts, plugging away on spreadsheets, and hoping they file accurately to get some cash. Cybercrime levels spike during this period, as hackers and scammers prey on taxpayers frantic to try and file their taxes in peace.

Identity theft and phishing are the top threats facing people this tax season, according to the Protect Yourself from Tax Season Identity Theft Scams document from the Center for Internet Security (CIS). Taxpayers need to be especially aware of e-mails and phone calls from people claiming to be from the IRS - and security experts need to be careful when opening e-mails, receiving phone calls, or receiving unsolicited correspondence.

If paper documents are no longer needed, they should be disposed of properly:

"One of the easiest ways to prevent the crime is by immediately shredding no-longer needed confidential documents," said Nancy Heaton, Fellowes Director of Global Marketing. "Fellowes offers a variety of shredders to suit every home office need that are perfect for tax season."