(We Chinese in America Media Editor Tang Zhao, March 17, 2022) As a valuable service to We Chinese in America website readers, We Chinese in America website posts English and Chinese versions of “IRS News Release” and “IRS Fact Sheets” directly received from IRS Media Relations Office in Washington, D.C.. We are pleased to take on this important role partnering with IRS to better inform the public.

IR-2022-60, March 16, 2022

WASHINGTON - The Internal Revenue Service today urged people to stay resolute against ongoing scams and schemes by properly securing computers, tablets and phones. Solid cybersecurity protection and scam recognition is vital to reduce the threat of identity theft inside and outside the tax system.

The IRS works closely with the Security Summit, a partnership with state tax agencies and the private-sector tax industry, to help protect taxpayer information and defend against identity theft. Taxpayers and tax professionals can take steps to help in this effort by doing things like minimizing cybersecurity footprints and recognizing common scams and schemes.

Below are 10 tips to help minimize exposure to fraud and identity theft:

• Safeguard personal data. Provide a Social Security number, for example, only when necessary. Only offer personal information or conduct financial transactions on sites that have been verified as reputable, encrypted websites.
• Protect personal information. Treat personal information like cash – don't hand it out to just anyone. Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, bank and even utility account numbers can be used to help steal a person's money or open new accounts.
• Use strong passwords. Use a password phrase or series of words that will be easy for you to remember. Use at least 10 characters; 12 is ideal for most home users. Mix letters, numbers and special characters. Try to be unpredictable – don't use names, birthdates or common words. Don't use the same password for many accounts and avoid sharing them. Keep passwords in a secure place or use password management tools.
• Set password and encryption protections for wireless networks. If a home or business Wi-Fi is unsecured, it allows any computer within range to access the wireless network and potentially steal information from connected devices. Whenever it is an option for a password-protected account, users should also opt for a multi-factor authentication process. Multi-factor authentication is critical to protecting your password.
• Avoid phishing scams. The easiest way for criminals to steal sensitive data is simply to ask for it. IRS urges people to learn to recognize phishing emails, calls or texts that pose as familiar organizations such as banks, credit card companies or even the IRS. Keep sensitive data safe and:
  • Be aware that an unsolicited email with a request to download an attachment or click on a URL could appear to come from someone that you know like a friend, work colleague or tax professional if their email has been spoofed or compromised.
  • Don't assume internet advertisements, pop-up ads or emails are from reputable companies. If an ad or offer looks too good to be true, take a moment to check out the company behind it.
  • Never download "security" software from a pop-up ad. A pervasive ploy is a pop-up ad that indicates it has detected a virus on the computer. The download most likely will install some type of malware. Reputable security software companies do not advertise in this manner.
• Use security software. An anti-virus program should provide protection from viruses, Trojans, spyware and adware. The IRS urges everyone to use an anti-virus program and always keep it up to date. Set security software to update automatically so it can be updated as threats emerge.
• Educate those less experienced about online safety. Children and those with less online experience may not be fully aware of the perils of opening suspicious web pages, emails or documents. Teens and younger users can put themselves at risk by leaving a trail of personal information for con artists to follow.
• Back up files. No system is completely secure. Copy important files, including federal and state tax returns, onto removable discs or back-up drives and cloud storage. Store discs, drives and any paper copies in secure, locked locations.

• Know the risk of public Wi-Fi. Connection to public Wi-Fi is convenient and often free, but it may not be safe. Hackers and cybercriminals can easily steal personal information from these networks. Always use a virtual private network when connecting to public Wi-Fi.
• Review ID Theft Central. Designed to improve online access to information on identity theft, it serves taxpayers, tax professionals and businesses.

The IRS doesn't initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text messages or social media channels to request personal or financial information. Generally, the IRS first mails a paper bill to a person who owes taxes. In some special situations, the IRS will call or come to a home or business.

People should be alert to scammers posing as the IRS to steal personal information. There are ways to know if it's really the IRS calling or knocking on someone's door.

Taxpayers can find answers to questions, forms and instructions and easy-to-use tools online at IRS.gov. They can use these resources to get help when it's needed at home, at work or on the go.

This news release is part of a series called the Tax Time Guide, a resource to help taxpayers file an accurate tax return. Additional help is available in Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax.

Source: IRS News Release

(We Chinese in America Media Editor Tang Zhao, March 15, 2022) Per County of San Diego Communications Office, the Registrar of Voters is seeking temporary election workers for the June 7, 2022 Gubernatorial Primary Election. Election workers can earn up to $20 an hour depending on the position.

There is a particular need for election workers to manage the operations of ballot drop box locations and site managers for vote centers around the county.

Ballot drop box locations will be open for nearly a month and vote centers will be open for up to 11 days instead of one. The Registrar’s office will hire election workers rather than use volunteer poll workers because training is more extensive for the expanded time period.

The Registrar is seeking people who are team players, exhibit strong leadership and customer service skills and display flexibility, patience, and the highest level of integrity at all times. Election workers must represent the Registrar of Voters in a professional, nonpartisan manner.

English speakers who are bilingual in Spanish, Filipino, Vietnamese or Chinese are also needed. If you are fluent in one of these languages, be sure to indicate it on your application.

The Registrar’s office is working with Public Health Services to ensure the health and safety of election workers and voters. Recommended personal protective equipment and sanitation supplies will be provided to workers so they can conduct the election process safely.

Applications are available online. For more information, call (858) 565-5800 or email 该Email地址已收到反垃圾邮件插件保护。要显示它您需要在浏览器中启用JavaScript。.

(Source: County of San Diego Communications Office)

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(We Chinese in America Media Editor Tang Zhao, March 16, 2022) International credit card agencies Visa and Mastercard announced suspension of operations in Russia, (Photo from AP)

International credit card agencies Visa and Mastercard announced they were suspending their Russian operations due to Russia's aggression in Ukraine, and Russian banks said today they plan to use China's UnionPay system to issue credit cards.

Visa and MasterCard announced yesterday that Visa and MasterCard cards issued by Russian banks are no longer valid overseas, and credit cards issued overseas cannot be used in Russia.

Russia's top two banks, Sberbank and Alfa Bank, said they were studying the launch of UnionPay cards.

"Sberbank is studying the issuance of a co-branded Mir-UnionPay credit card. We will inform you of the timetable for the issuance at a later date," Sberbank said in a statement.

Russia's largest private bank, Alfa Bank, said it has been studying the issuance of credit cards with China's UnionPay system.

(Source: Central News Agency)

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(We Chinese in America Media Editor Tang Zhao, March 13, 2022) The mayor and the newly appointed Board of Education members are at the inauguration ceremony. Lisa Weissman-Ward (from left), Lainie Motamedi, Mayor Breed, and Ann Hsu. (Photography from The World News Network)

On the morning of the 11th, San Francisco Mayor London Breed held the swearing-in ceremony of three new school board members at Galileo High School, where she studied. Chinese American entrepreneur Ann Hsu, government policy analyst Lainie Motamedi, and immigrant rights law professor Lisa Weissman-Ward have been appointed to the new Jinshan School District Board of Education to fill the vacancy of the Board of Education. The three former members were dismissed on February 15. The newly appointed Board members are all parents of public-school students. Xu An was one of the leaders of the recall action.

Xu An said that she was honored to be appointed as the Board member and looked forward to working with other colleagues to tackle two challenges, one is to solve the school district's $125 million budget deficit, and the other is to select a new superintendent because the current superintendent is about to retire. One of the key reasons for the success of the recall election was that the former School Board tried to cancel the merit-based admissions system at Lowell High School and forced the admission by lottery. Xu An said the merit-based admissions method should be reinstated. What the district needs to do is to prepare more children from underserved communities.

"The three new boards were created from the parents of the students because we wanted to make sure that the children were always put first, not for promotion or any kind of political gain," Breed said. The three new board members are strong, capable women "who I believe will do the best for our children, our educators and the school district."

The appointment could have a major impact on the San Francisco Unified School District in the coming months. The three new Boards of Education members will work together to determine Lowell's future enrollment, interview the new superintendent, and address issues such as fiscal deficits. The district is also grappling with declining enrollment, as well as the impact of the pandemic on instruction and mental health.

The three newly appointed education committees will complete the remaining terms of the dismissed board members. The term ends in early January 2023. If they want to stay in office, they must stand in elections in November this year.

(Source: World Journal Network)

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