Tax season is here, and so are the scammers. Con artists use the Social Security numbers of unsuspecting Americans to file phony tax returns and steal refunds.
Online filers that go through the IRS website and in most cases expect a refund. Instead, a written IRS notice arrives in the mail, stating that more than one tax return was filed using your Social Security number. What happened? Scammers got hold of personal information, typically the account holder’s Social Security number, address, and birth date. They filed your return early and received your refund before you even got around to filing. Tax ID theft is a particularly sneaky con, because victims typically don’t realize they’ve been targeted until they actually file their taxes.
The best way to avoid this problem is to file early, protect your social security number, and utilize an Identity Protection PIN. You can visit www.IRS.gov to learn more about the IP PIN.