As part of its ongoing awareness campaign, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Security Summit warns taxpayers and professional advisors to be aware of the latest email phishing scams. Because both tax advisors and individuals are active users of email, there is frequent opportunity for identity thieves to trick individuals into releasing confidential data.

The IRS previously noted that identity thieves have been relentless in exploiting and tricking taxpayers and tax professionals to disclose sensitive information. The IRS further noted that fighting back against phishing scams requires constant vigilance and urges tax professionals and taxpayers to take basic steps to protect their sensitive information.

There are several strategies that “bad actors”, or identity thieves, use to collect passwords, bank account numbers, credit card numbers or Social Security numbers.

1. Trusted Source— A bad actor will pose as a familiar person or an individual from a reputable organization. They will then claim that he or she is a long-lost friend, a colleague at a former employer, a bank, a credit card company or even the IRS.
2. Urgent Story— Another strategy is to write a story that pulls on your heartstrings and creates urgency. Some bad actors have written stories about friends or family members who have recently suffered from a disaster or are hospitalized and require immediate assistance. The story will also include a link to a document needed to provide help to that friend or family member.
3. Spear Phishing— A particularly successful strategy by the bad actor is to pose as a potential new client to a tax professional. To create a false sense of security, the individual exchanges four or five emails with the tax professional. After four or five emails, the guard of the tax professional is down, and the bad actor sends an email attachment that triggers the download of malware.

In these cases, the bad actor will attempt to have malware downloaded on to your computer through the click of links or opening of attachments. Then, the malware downloaded onto the computer of the individual or tax professional is designed to give the bad actor access to passwords. If the tax professional has client accounts with pending tax returns, the bad actor completes those returns and files them. However, the bank account information for the refund is changed to an account controlled by the bad actor.

Tax professionals have also been subject to ransomware attacks. With malware on the computer or network of the tax professional, the bad actor is able to encrypt all the business files. This is particularly effective because the tax returns will have due dates that need to be met. The bad actor then demands a cryptocurrency payment from the professional. If the ransom is paid, the bad actor may send a key to decrypt the files and allow the tax professional to meet the required tax deadlines.

The IRS urges all individuals with financial accounts to use two-factor authentication. Both individuals and tax professionals must have anti-virus software that is updated on a daily basis. Tax professionals should also encrypt the data and create daily backup files in order to easily recover files if their hard drives are encrypted.

All adults should have certain legal documents prepared to protect themselves and their family. These documents will make sure your wishes regarding your estate are legally recognized and clearly understood. They will also minimize any conflicts and confusion among family members and health care providers in the event of serious illness or death. Here are the key documents you need along with some tips to help you create them.

Will or Trust: A will lets you lay out your wishes of how you would like your property and assets distributed after you pass away, whether it is to family, friends or a charity. A will also allows you to designate an executor to ensure your wishes are carried out and allows you to name guardians if you have dependent children.

In addition to a will, if you own real estate or have considerable assets, another option you may want to consider is a revocable living trust. This functions like a will but allows your estate to avoid the time and expense of probate (the public legal process that examines your estate after you die) and helps protect your estate’s privacy.

Do-It-Yourself Will: If you have a simple estate and an uncomplicated family situation, there are do-it-yourself resources that can help you create a will. To make your will legally valid, you will need to follow proper signing procedures, including having the required witnesses sign it with you. Many young families will start with a do-it-yourself will as a placeholder document until family circumstances change and they acquire significant assets. After several years, they may contact an attorney for a complete estate plan.

Advance Directive: An Advance Directive includes two documents that explain your wishes regarding your end-of-life medical treatment. One document is a living will which tells your doctor what kind of care you want to receive if you become incapacitated. The other document is a health care power of attorney (or health care proxy), which names a person you authorize to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable. Advance Directive forms can be found online and vary by state, so it is important to use the version specific to where you live.

If you have a serious medical condition, you may consider filling out Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST). This is a state-specific form that your doctor would fill out that translates your end-of-life wishes into medical orders to ensure your wishes are carried out.

HIPAA Release: A signed HIPPA form gives your healthcare provider permission to discuss your medical care and medical bills with those you designate. You may need specific HIPAA release forms for each of your medical providers. In some states, your Advance Directive will also contain a HIPAA release.

Durable Power of Attorney for Finances: A durable power of attorney allows you to designate someone you trust to handle your financial affairs if you become incapacitated. Another option is to make your durable power of attorney for finances effective when signed. Many individuals will create a durable power of attorney for finances that give immediate powers to a responsible person to help manage their funds and investments.

Get Help: If you want assistance or if you have a complicated situation, such as a blended family or considerable assets, you should hire an attorney. An experienced lawyer can make sure you cover all your bases – especially when writing a will or living trust – which can help avoid family confusion and squabbles after you are gone.

Costs will vary depending on where you reside, but you can expect to pay somewhere between $500 and $2,000 for a basic estate plan that includes a will, power of attorney and advance directive. If you want your estate plan to include a living trust, costs can run anywhere between $1,500 to $5,000 or more for complex estates.

The National Association of Estate Planners and Councils (NAEPC.org) and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA.org) are two good resources that have directories on their websites to help you find an attorney in your area. If you are looking for affordable legal assistance, check with your state’s bar association for low-cost legal help in your area.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization’s official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

Depending on where your family members are buried, there are a variety of places you can turn to for gravesite grooming, decorating and special care. Here is what you should know.

Gravesite Care

It is important to know that typically most cemeteries may only provide basic ground maintenance like mowing the grass and picking up trash. Special gravesite care and headstone cleaning are almost always up to the family. But for families who live a distance from their loved one’s burial place and cannot visit very often, what options are available?

A good place to start is to contact the cemetery where your family is buried and talk to the staff and see if they offer any special gravesite cleaning services or know of anyone who does. If not, try reaching out to local funeral homes in the area to see if they can help or have referrals.

Another option is to hire a gravesite care provider on your own. These are small or individually run businesses that provide services like plot maintenance including grass trimming and weeding, headstone cleaning and restoration, flower and wreath deliveries and more. For your convenience and to confirm the work was completed or the flowers were delivered, many companies will take pictures of the gravesite and e-mail or text them to you.

There are hundreds of small businesses that provide gravesite care services in local communities or regions across the country. To find them, do an internet search using keywords like “grave care services” or “cemetery headstone cleaning” plus your city or state.

You can also seek help by contacting the local memorial society or Funeral Consumer Alliance program near your family’s gravesite. These are volunteer groups that offer a wide range of information on local funeral and cremation providers, cemeteries and more.

The cost for most gravesite care services can range anywhere from $50 to $250 for headstone cleaning and memorial restoration (depending on the size of the job and frequency), $50 to $200 for flower and wreath deliveries, and $30 to $80 for plot grooming. Special discounts for multiple gravesite services or repeated visits may also be an option.

Floral Services

If you are interested in decorating your family’s gravesite with fresh cut flowers or live plants, another option is to call a local florist to see if they can make a delivery directly to their grave site. Many florists will accommodate this request if you provide them with the cemetery location and plot number, but you may not get a photo verifying the delivery.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization’s official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

Medicare will not cover annual physical exams, but it will cover a one-time “Welcome to Medicare” checkup in your first year after enrolling in Part B. Thereafter, Medicare covers yearly wellness visits to keep track of your health. Here is what you should know.

Physical vs Wellness Exam

An annual physical is an overall health check where a doctor examines you, may order blood tests or other diagnostics and checks for health issues, even if you do not have a specific complaint or risk.

In contrast, the Welcome to Medicare checkup and annual wellness visits are centered on preventive care. During these visits, your doctor will review your risk factors, develop your personalized health plan, ensure that you are up to date with preventive tests such as cancer screenings and flu shots and refer you for additional tests if needed. Here is a breakdown of what these exams may include.

Welcome to Medicare Checkup

The Welcome to Medicare checkup is an introduction to Medicare and focuses on health promotion, disease prevention and early detection to maintain your well-being. It gives your doctor the chance to assess your health and provide a plan for care. During this visit your doctor will:

• Record your height, weight, blood pressure measurements to calculate your body mass index (BMI).
• Inquire about personal and family health history.
• Provide referrals for other care as needed.
• Evaluate your risk for depression.
• Conduct a basic vision test.
• Recommend vaccinations, tests, screenings and other preventive services you may need.
• Offer to talk about creating advance directives.

Annual Wellness Visit

This visit includes many of the same components as the Welcome to Medicare checkup. Your doctor will review your medical history, record your vital signs and give you a chance to discuss advance directives. They may also provide the following services:

• Develop a checklist for recommended preventive services for the following year.
• Evaluate health risks and treatment options.
• Perform a cognitive screening to check for early signs of dementia.
• Provide personalized health advice.
• Review your current prescriptions.
• Assess risk factors for opioid problems if you have a prescription for opioids and screen for potential substance use disorders.

Medicare Coverage 

Both the Welcome to Medicare and annual wellness visits are covered by Medicare Part B. To ensure coverage, be sure to ask for the Welcome to Medicare checkup or annual wellness visit when you book the appointment. If not, you may have to pay for the visit. You do not need to complete the Welcome to Medicare visit to qualify for later annual wellness visits. However, keep in mind that Medicare will not pay for a wellness visit during the first 12 months you have Part B. Keep in mind that, at either of these visits, your provider may recommend additional tests or procedures that could incur Medicare’s deductibles, copayments or coinsurance.

If you are enrolled in Medicare Advantage, you will likely need to use an in-network provider for the wellness visits to be covered. Some Medicare Advantage plans also include coverage for annual physicals in addition to the wellness visit. Review your plan for specific details.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization’s official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.