How to Protect Your Tax Refund From Being Stolen

According to the IRS, the average non-business taxpayer spends eight hours and $120 per yearpreparing histax return. That's a lot of time and money to invest in something you probably don't want to do in the first place. Yet, there's often a reward for your investment, as many taxpayers get some of their hard-earned money back with a tax refund.

Unfortunately, scammers are well aware of this. In fact, according to a 2013 audit by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, there were more than 1.1 million cases oftax refundfraudin 2012. All a thief needs to run a tax refund scam on you is your Social Security number, leaving you wondering where your tax refund went.

Here's how you can prevent tax fraud from happening to you.

How tax refund fraud occursIdentity theft comes in various forms. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, these include the following:

Dumpster diving --oing through your garbage or recycle bins for statements, personal documents, etc.
Shoulder surfing --listening to or watching you as you say or enter information (such as your SSN)
Mail interception -- stealing mail from your mailbox

Other methods of identity theft include:

Phishing -- a false website or scam email intended to lure personal information from you
Malware -- a computer program that you unwittingly download, which then steals your information
Physical theft -- good, old-fashioned purse or wallet snatching

So, a thief can get his hands on yourstolen Social Security numberand other personal information stealthily, by eavesdropping on your phone calls or web surfing, tricking you with a website or email that appears genuine, or through the use of malware, making it easy to fall victim to it.

How identity thieves steal tax returnsStealing your Social Security number is often the hardest task for a tax refund scammer. Once that's achieved, all he or she has to do is file a tax return in your name, have it sent to a different address (or bank account), and your hard-earned money is gone forever. You'll just be left wondering, "Where is my tax refund?"

6 waysto protect yourself from tax refund scamsThe following are some tips to prevent identify theft (and thus tax refund fraud) from happening to you.

1. Guard your Social Security numberOnly give your Social Security number ifyou'veinitiated a call or are otherwise confident in who you're dealing with. Also, ask why a business needs your SSN before handing it over. If it is not absolutely required, or you are otherwise uncertain of therequester'slegitimacy, don't do it.

2. Monitor your credit reportThe IRS recommends checking your credit report every 12 months, reviewing for any activity that is out of place with your financial records or purchases.

3. Protect your computerProtect your computer with anti-spam and anti-virus software. Keep security patches up-to-date and use a firewall.On this note, change passwords regularly in case a thief steals your existing passwords.

Also, note that the IRS does not request personal or financial information via any electronic means. If you receive an "IRS" email asking for such information, forward it toPhishing@irs.gov.

4. Secure physical filesAnything that has your Social Security number on it should be stored in a secure location, includingtax recordsfrom past years. Examples include safes and locked drawers. Shred all documents you no longer need.

5. Watch your wallet (or purse)Keep your wallet or purse in sight at all times, even at work. Or, keep it in a secure location, such as a locked desk drawer or gym locker.

6. Protect your identity when travelingHave your mail held at your local post office or have a trusted family member, friend or neighbor regularly gather it while you're away. Also, while traveling (or anytime you leave the house for that matter), only take your Social Security card with you if you need it. Keep any sensitive materials, including your Social Security card, locked in a hotel safe when you are away from your room.

What to do if you're the victim of a tax fraud scamIf someone steals your personal information, contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 1-800-908-4490. If the thief has already stolen your tax refund or you've become a victim of atax scam, call the IRS at 1-800-829-0433.

Other organizations you might wish to contact include:

U.S. Postal Service
Social Security Administration
Credit reporting companies
Financial institutions you do business with

Tax refund scams are just one more way that an identity thief can use your personal information to steal your money. By following the tips in this guide, however, you can minimize your vulnerability to tax refund fraud and protect yourself -- and your tax refund -- from theft.

This article originally appeared at GOBankingRates.

The article How to Protect Your Tax Refund From Being Stolen originally appeared on Fool.com.

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