Tax time is upon us, and that means the identity thieves who specialize in tax-related crimes are cranking up for their busy season.
These crooks steal money from all of us by pretending to be taxpayers or businesses, filing false tax returns in their names, and claiming big refunds from the government. In some instances crooks earn money that is then reported as another person’s income, leaving that person to pay taxes on money they didn’t earn.
In addition to the loss to the US Treasury, these scams bring major headaches for the individuals and businesses whose names are falsely used by the crooks.
Partnering with the IRS and other government agencies, the Federal Trade Commission wants to help you avoid tax ID theft. The FTC is kicking off its Tax ID Theft Awareness Week with a series of events for consumers, seniors, service members, and businesses.
The first event, a webinar for consumers, took place Monday. Learn more about this and other events, and take steps to make your tax season as painless as possible.
If you think you might be a victim of identity theft, including tax identity theft, the North Carolina Department of Justice has helpful information. Crossed paths with a scammer? You can file a complaint or contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at 1-877-5-NO-SCAM.
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