Identity theft occurs when someone obtains your personal information – such as your social security number, credit card or bank account numbers, passwords, etc. to defraud or commit crimes. You might be a victim of identity theft if:
- Someone else has filed a tax return in your name;
- You have an overdue balance or collection action from a year you did not file a tax return;
- You find confirmed IRS records of wages from an employer you never worked for.
IDENTITY THEFT PREVENTION TIPS:
Taxes. Security. Together.
The Security Summit launched an awareness campaign www.irs.gov/individuals/taxes-security-together to better inform you about the need to protect your personal, tax and financial data online and at home. People continue to fall prey to clever cybercriminals who trick them into giving up Social Security numbers, account numbers or password information. In turn, criminals use this information a variety of ways, including filing fraudulent tax returns.
Protect Yourself from Identity Theft
Identity thieves have many ways to obtain your personal information. However, there are a number of precautions you can take to minimize your risk. This video provides 5 tips you can use to protect yourself against identity theft and fraud.
Other Resources
- Identity Theft.gov (Federal Trade Commission)
- Recovering from Identity Theft (Federal Trade Commission)
- IRS Identity Protection Tips (IRS)
- Protecting Your Investment (Social Security Administration)
- Identity Protection: Prevention, Detection and Victim Assistance (IRS)
- FTC: Tax-Related Identity Theft (Federal Trade Commission)