A Digital Defense Against W-2 Theft

A Digital Defense Against W-2 Theft

The FBI gives basic steps to mitigate the threat of W-2 theft.

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • Mar 08, 2018

It is "prime time," about a month before April's tax filing deadline, for cybercriminals and scam artists looking to cash in on your personal tax information. The FBI has recently issued an updated warning for businesses and employees to be on the watch for W-2 theft.

If a cybercriminal gets ahold of your W-2, he or she has the ability to file your tax return, and get your refund, before you do. There is also a great deal of personally identifiable information, including your Social Security Number, that could lead to numerous other problems for a victim.

The FBI says the most common way a scam artist could get your W-2 information is through a phishing scheme. The hacker, pretending to be an executive at the company, sends an email to the HR department and asks for employee's personal information or their W-2's, perhaps for tax or audit purposes. In some cases, hackers have been able to cause a massive data dump affecting thousands of employees.

So, how can you strengthen your company to ensure this doesn't happen and the data of your employees is protected? The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center has put together some basic steps that businesses can take to mitigate the threat:

  • Limit the number of people who have access to employees' person information and W-2's.
  • Set up two-factor verification system to confirm the request and receipt of such sensitive information.
  • Establish protocols for sensitive information requests ahead of time and outside the email environment.
  • Ensure that you secure sensitive PII and W-2 information with encryption.
  • Establish and maintain robust and strong security for your data, including firewalls, virus protection and spam filters.

"Businesses that have suffered a data breach involving tax information should immediately report that breach to the IRS and your state tax agency," the FBI said. "The IRS also wants to hear from you if you received a W-2 phishing e-mail but did not fall victim to the scam."

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Report: 47 Percent of Security Service Providers Are Not Yet Using AI or Automation Tools

    Trackforce, a provider of security workforce management platforms, today announced the launch of its 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, an industry-first study that benchmarks both private security service providers and corporate security teams side by side. Based on a survey of over 300 security professionals across the globe, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of physical security operations. Read Now

    • Guard Services

  • Identity Governance at the Crossroads of Complexity and Scale

    Modern enterprises are grappling with an increasing number of identities, both human and machine, across an ever-growing number of systems. They must also deal with increased operational demands, including faster onboarding, more scalable models, and tighter security enforcement. Navigating these ever-growing challenges with speed and accuracy requires a new approach to identity governance that is built for the future enterprise. Read Now

  • Eagle Eye Networks Launches AI Camera Gun Detection

    Eagle Eye Networks, a provider of cloud video surveillance, recently introduced Eagle Eye Gun Detection, a new layer of protection for schools and businesses that works with existing security cameras and infrastructure. Eagle Eye Networks is the first to build gun detection into its platform. Read Now

  • Report: AI is Supercharging Old-School Cybercriminal Tactics

    AI isn’t just transforming how we work. It’s reshaping how cybercriminals attack, with threat actors exploiting AI to mass produce malicious code loaders, steal browser credentials and accelerate cloud attacks, according to a new report from Elastic. Read Now

  • Pragmatism, Productivity, and the Push for Accountability in 2025-2026

    Every year, the security industry debates whether artificial intelligence is a disruption, an enabler, or a distraction. By 2025, that conversation matured, where AI became a working dimension in physical identity and access management (PIAM) programs. Observations from 2025 highlight this turning point in AI’s role in access control and define how security leaders are being distinguished based on how they apply it. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.