Identity thieves target taxes
Scammers are filing false returns for hundreds of thousands of taxpayers-->By: Ray Doughty
Updated: February 29, 2012
Identity thieves have taken their larceny to the next level.
They're targeting the Internal Revenue Service, and in the process stealing from hundreds of thousands of taxpayers.
The I.R.S. says identity thieves are stalking taxpayers, especially those filing tax returns online.
An identity thief thief can submit a phony tax return and get a refund using the Social Security numbers of someone else's children.
To avoid this, they advise you shred documents that may have your family's Social Security numbers on them regularly.
Also, keep a close eye on your mailbox and make sure your mail doesn't stay in it overnight.
Also remember the I.R.S. never initiates contact with taxpayers by email or social media to request personal or financial information.
An I.R.S crackdown on identity thieves stealing other people's tax refunds resulted in over 100 arrests in 23 states last month.
They're targeting the Internal Revenue Service, and in the process stealing from hundreds of thousands of taxpayers.
The I.R.S. says identity thieves are stalking taxpayers, especially those filing tax returns online.
An identity thief thief can submit a phony tax return and get a refund using the Social Security numbers of someone else's children.
To avoid this, they advise you shred documents that may have your family's Social Security numbers on them regularly.
Also, keep a close eye on your mailbox and make sure your mail doesn't stay in it overnight.
Also remember the I.R.S. never initiates contact with taxpayers by email or social media to request personal or financial information.
An I.R.S crackdown on identity thieves stealing other people's tax refunds resulted in over 100 arrests in 23 states last month.
