The IRS is warning taxpayers to watch out for scams following Hurricane Florence, which has dumped heavy rain on North and South Carolina and caused intense flooding.
The agency said Tuesday that scammers will impersonate charities to take advantage of people who want to help natural-disaster victims. Some scammers impersonating charities will seek to get taxpayers’ money or financial information through phone calls and emails, while others may operate websites with names similar to legitimate charities, the IRS said.
{mosads}Additionally, the IRS said that scammers will pretend to be employees of the agency seeking to help disaster victims file casualty-loss claims and obtain tax refunds.
Florence, which is now a post-tropical cyclone, has caused significant flooding in the Carolinas. More than 30 deaths have been linked to the storm.
The IRS has a tool on its website where people can look up charities to see if they are eligible for tax-deductible contributions. The agency encourages taxpayers to make charitable donations via credit card or check instead of giving cash.
Last week, the IRS extended certain tax-filing deadlines for individuals and businesses impacted by Florence. The agency also has resources for disaster victims on its website.