With tax season underway, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection is reminding people to be aware of identity theft.
Spokesperson Michelle Reinen says it’s important to never store personal information on your computer and shred unneeded documents because if identity thieves get a hold of your information, they could file taxes in your name before you do.
If you need to keep your personal information after filing, get it off the computer.
“Put it on an external hard drive, store it, get it to a secure place, and delete that file from the computer,” she explains. “You use that device year-round for everything else so why have it accessible should there be a compromise.”
She also says it’s important to keep credit card and other family members’ information off the computer if you do taxes for anyone else.
If you become a victim, Reinen says call your bank, credit card company, or whatever company your compromised information is under.
“Talk to them about how you want to lock down your accounts,” she described. “It (an ID Thief,) might be opening new ones, it might be issuing new credit cards or ATM changing pins and passwords.”
You’ll also want to file a police report if your social security number has been compromised by calling the non-emergency line.
It’s important to have it because you can give it to the DATCP so they can lead you to the right place to get help. Their hotline is 1-800-422-7128.
You can also find more information online at the DATC P website.
