As tax season gets underway, taxpayers are reminded to be vigilant against identity thieves who seek to claim their refunds first. The FBI and IRS have issued a joint warning about the growing threat of identity theft during this period.
Recent reports indicate that more than 1,000 cases of identity theft have been reported so far this year. Thieves are stealing personally identifiable information (PII) such as Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and addresses to file fraudulent tax returns. According to Bret Hood, a retired FBI agent, “Once they get that information, they can take over your bank account. They can open up credit cards. They can even take your IRS refund if you have one.”
To protect themselves, taxpayers are advised to set up an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) to safeguard their tax returns. The IRS also warns that it will never contact taxpayers via email, text, or social media, so any such communications should be treated with caution. If there’s suspicion that personal information has been compromised, it’s recommended to contact one of the major credit reporting agencies to file a fraud alert. This alert will be shared with the other agencies.
For further information and resources on protecting against identity theft during tax season, refer to the official IRS guidelines.
