The Village of Riverside released on Feb. 23 a set of safety tips to help residents protect their personal information during tax season.
The guidance aims to raise awareness about the risks of identity theft and online scams, which often increase as people prepare and file their taxes. The village encourages residents to take steps to secure their computers and phones, avoid phishing scams, protect sensitive documents, and recognize IRS impersonators.
Residents are advised to use security software with automatic updates, strong passwords or password managers, two-factor authentication, and only share personal information on encrypted websites. The village also recommends backing up files securely and not leaving personal data unattended. To avoid phishing scams, the tips highlight being cautious with emails that appear urgent or come from unfamiliar sources, never downloading software from pop-up ads, and discussing online security with family members.
The village warns against carrying Social Security cards unnecessarily or oversharing personal details on social media. It also reminds residents that “the IRS will not call you with threats of jail or lawsuits,” “the IRS will not send you an unsolicited email suggesting you have a refund or that you need to update your account,” and “the IRS will not request any sensitive information online. These are all scams, and they are persistent. Don’t fall for them.” Residents are encouraged to forward scam emails to phishing@irs.gov and report impersonation calls at www.tigta.gov.
Additional recommendations include checking credit reports annually, monitoring bank statements regularly, reviewing Social Security Administration records each year by signing up at www.ssa.gov, and visiting www.irs.gov/identitytheft if affected by identity theft.
The Village of Riverside is recognized for its landscape design by Frederick Law Olmsted and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970 for its historical significance according to the official website. The municipality provides services such as fire suppression, emergency medical care, law enforcement, parks programs, public library access according to the official website, promotes cultural awareness through its historical commission and library programs according to the official website, delivers municipal services responsibly while maintaining its heritage according to the official website, and focuses on community management as part of its suburban character according to the official website.
