Thompson & McCarty, P.C. CPA

This message was sent out by Ann Mullins, Regional Vice President, of the Better Business Burea - Cullman

Secret Shoppers Scam Targeting Americans

Your Better Business Bureau is alerting members to a Canadian company that
is targeting residents in Alabama and other states.

Alabama residents have been seeking information on a company named Secret
Shoppers located at 1555 Regent Ave., W, Winnipeg, MB R2C 2J4, Phone
204-952-8272 and website www.secretshoppers.ca
<http://www.secretshoppers.ca>.    Consumers report  

Most people undertand the importance of keeping their valuables in a safe place in case of an emergency. But what happens if the accident happens to your "safe place"? Hurricanes Katrina and Rita just emphasized the point.

Many people keep their valuables in a safe deposit box. Of course, the safe deposit box is uaually waterproof and fireproof. However, if the bank is destroyed by fire, flood, or some other disaster chances are pretty good that you will never see the contents of your safe depsoit box again.

The time to plan for how to recover from such a disaster is before it happens. By taking some steps now, you may be able to get your life and finances back in order quickly if disaster strikes.

RECORD NUMBER OF AUDITS EXPECTED IN 2004........ AND IT HAPPENED!!!! AGAIN and AGAIN!!

You May be Next!

Mark W. Everson, IRS Commissioner, stated on November 18, 2004, that audit rates are up for 2004, bringing in a new record of $43.1 billion for Enforcement Revenue. That is an increase of $5.5 billion from last year. The IRS selects returns for audit using several different methods. While the selection criteria used to select returns for audit is top secret, past experience tells us what characteristics will often result in selection. MORE BAD NEWS FOR THE 2006 SEASON! An even higher number of returns were audited in 2005 and the IRS continues to make no bones that the trend is for more audits in the future. For some specific numbers check out this article. Look folks, this makes perfectly good sense as a business matter. The only revenue generating people at the IRS are AUDITORS. My first and best advice is: