B2 – Upper Intermediate
Unfortunately, in the digital age, where technology pervades every aspect of our lives, scams and frauds have grown in sophistication.
The IRS tax refund scam is one such dangerous scheme that exploits taxpayers’ vulnerabilities. As tax season approaches, people must remain vigilant in distinguishing between reliable correspondence from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and savvy scammers attempting to steal sensitive information.
To avoid falling victim to these scams, it is crucial to be aware of certain red flags. Visit the link for additional information.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tax-refund-scam-irs_l_65bbe017e4b05c8779f84c11
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “underway” mean in the sentence, “Tax season is underway, and unfortunately, so are the scams.”? Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘underway’ in your own sentence.
- What does “stakeholder liason” mean, “If you your tax data may have been compromised because you got fooled, you can report client data theft to your local stakeholder liaison.”? Use this in your own sentence.
- What does “red flag” mean in the sentence, “The biggest red flag of a suspicious IRS scam is in how the message got delivered to you.”? Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘red flag’ in your own sentence.
Discussion Questions:
- What is the biggest red flag mentioned in the article that indicates a suspicious IRS scam?
- What are your thoughts on many organizations or government offices like the IRS communicating via nontraditional ways such as email, text, or social media?
- Have you ever encountered a tax refund scam, or do you know someone who has fallen victim to such fraudulent schemes? Please share.
- What precautions can one take to verify the legitimacy of communications claiming to be from the tax ministry during tax season?
- The article suggests creating an online account with the IRS for up-to-date information on taxes. Do you currently have such an account, and how do you feel about using online platforms for tax-related matters? Tell me more.
- Do you think the use of technology and social media has made people more susceptible to falling for IRS scams? Why or why not?