OT Identity Theft: A Serious Issue

[KG Erwin]

Regard this as a public service announcement: today I got involved in a case in which a retired person had their social security number and address stolen, and this info was used to file a fraudulent state tax return. The identity thieves also used this info to file a fraudulent federal tax return.

As tax day is tomorrow, please be aware and careful of giving any PII (personally identifying information) to anyone you can't verify as a legitimate tax preparer or other business entity.

As you folks know, I'm a state tax auditor, so please please make your elderly relatives aware of these scams, as they are all too common these days.

It's part of my business to stop this kind of crime, and I take it very seriously.

Guys, please refrain from making any jokes about this, OK?

Thank you.

[parusski]

I do volunteer work at a local charity and we recently received a warning about this happening here, but I think it might have been for federal tax returns. This is truly despicable.

[nate25]

Thanks KG. Well said.

[Fred98]

Regarding identity theft........

I have a Google log in and I have a Youtube log in.

After Google bought Youtube, Youtube now requires you to use your Google log in.

Instead I have 2 email addresses which means my Google log in and my Youtube log in are quite separate.

I did this as a precaution.

I recently signed up with Facebook to look for some old friends. On Facebook I list only basic information.
.

[Titanwarrior89]

Thanks for the info KG.  I worry about ID theft.  It's only getting worst.  Must watch our backs agains't this low life theives[:-]

[GaryChildress]

A little off the topic of identity theft but still concerning fraud, I received a phone call today from someone claiming they worked for microsoft who told me they had discovered my computer was infected by a virus. Before we went any further I hung up. I googled the incident and found out that this form of fraud is apparently common now as well. Of course it could as well be on the topic of identity theft because I didn't stay on the phone long enough to find out what sort of information they were looking for. I'm sure the next thing they would have me do is go to a website to DL an "important security update" or something along those lines. [X(]

[Missouri_Rebel]

It's hard for the common man to ward off the thieves in society because in order to beat a thief, one has to think like a thief which is outside the norm of ordinary folk.

I'm glad there are people like KG who are looking out for our country's most vulnerable citizens.

Gary- That is one weird dragnet type scam they are running there. Phone call warnings of computer problems? You'd think that 99.99999% of the people would see right through it, but I guess that still leaves some victims in their net. My Mother-in-law was nearly scammed by something similar. She is from another time where they took most people at their word and were insulated from the technologies of today's criminals.

mo reb

[SLAAKMAN]

Guys, please refrain from making any jokes about this, OK?

er....Im trying to hold back but....its not easy....could bust wide open at any moment....ok never mind. [:'(]

[Harriet61]

I do volunteer work at a local charity and we recently received a warning about this happening here.

[2ndACR]

Would be better if we could get everyone to quit asking for SSN numbers for eveything. Electric, Cable, Water, doctors everyone and their mother asks for SSN numbers and if you refuse to give it, they refuse you service.

Does not matter that you quote a federal law that states the SSN is for federal tax purposes only.

[pzgndr]

this info was used to file a fraudulent state tax return. The identity thieves also used this info to file a fraudulent federal tax return

Criminals are going to do what criminals always do; I don't lose sleep wondering about that. What really bothers me is HOW federal, state and local governments and businesses can so easily allow fraudulent activity to pass through their hands, resulting in a significant burden to innocent people. THAT is criminal in itself and severe penalties should be applied to those who accept fraudulent information without any verification. Instead, we the people get beat up about PII and such, when in practice it should not matter a whit. Why should anybody be able to use someone else's SSN and address and be able to do anything with it?? That is wrong right there. [:-]