I Have Been Stolen!!!

[anniemac]

Got a letter today from the IRS telling me that they were holding my refund for 2011 to check it out further.

But, I don't have to file a tax return and haven't since 2007. I called the IRS fraud department and sure enough, someone is trying to file a tax return in my name with my details. The address that the IRS sent the letter to is the address on my driver's license, which is not my full mailing address.

Now I've got to file with the IRS, Social Security, FTC and so on and so on. B@#st##ds!!!!!

So, keep a very close eye on your goods. I thought I was.

 

[Mousey]

I wish I had posted the news article from a couple months back when I saw it. People's ID's are being used to file returns.... millions of them probably... easiest targets are dead folks and those who don't have to file.

I'm so sorry this happened Annie.... theiving, trashy, assholes just won't leave honest people alone. And you'll probably never know who or how. pfffffftttt....

 

[anniemac]

Thanks, Mousey.

Lady at the IRS told me they were investigating 1/2 MILLION!!!! cases this year. Said that alot of them were traced back to banks and medical. Go figure.

 

[conker]

This is sad news anniemac, but I think it was wise to bring it to the forum as hopefully it will make others more aware of this sort of fraud. I hope you somehow get some money back if you have lost any.

 

[anniemac]

I haven't lost any money. My bank accounts are OK. They actually filed an income tax return in my name and with my SS# and address. I wouldn't have known anything about it if the IRS hadn't written me a letter saying they were holding my refund.

But since they do have my info, I've got to be proactive and stop them before something does happen.

Got to go file a police report tomorrow so I can put a credit freeze on Equifax etc.

I am not a very happy camper right now!

 

[P.V.]

Got a letter today from the IRS telling me that they were holding my refund for 2011 to check it out further.

But, I don't have to file a tax return and haven't since 2007. I called the IRS fraud department and sure enough, someone is trying to file a tax return in my name with my details. The address that the IRS sent the letter to is the address on my driver's license, which is not my full mailing address.

Now I've got to file with the IRS, Social Security, FTC and so on and so on. B@#st##ds!!!!!

So, keep a very close eye on your goods. I thought I was.

If you made $1.00 you need to file within the US, so you're saying you didn't make any income since 2007?

 

[vinylweatherman]

I haven't lost any money. My bank accounts are OK. They actually filed an income tax return in my name and with my SS# and address. I wouldn't have known anything about it if the IRS hadn't written me a letter saying they were holding my refund.

But since they do have my info, I've got to be proactive and stop them before something does happen.

Got to go file a police report tomorrow so I can put a credit freeze on Equifax etc.

I am not a very happy camper right now!

I am not sure how this con works

Surely they could just as easily end up OWING money to the IRS by filing a return.

I can only imagine that the IRS usually take too much tax, and most people don't realise that they are due a refund, so the fraudster pockets any refunds due by filing speculative returns knowing that many will generate refunds. The problem seems to be the address, the IRS wrote to you, so would surely have sent you the refund as well.

There has to be an angle, else they wouldn't take the risk. Perhaps procedures within the IRS are flawed, and are therefore open to this kind of scam. Here in the UK, it would be benefit fraud using someone else's ID. People who have left the country or died are favoured by fraudsters, as the genuine owner of the ID isn't going to notice. It is even possible to invent children that don't exist, and claim benefit for them. It seems cross checking with the births or immigration registers is either flawed, or not even happening.

More usual is for fraudsters to take out as much credit as they can using a fake ID, and then do a runner.

 

[Jasminebed]

Not sure about the US, but here you can have your tax refund direct deposited to a bank account. Open an account with the fake ID, obtain a bank card and presto!

I think I've read that government cheques can be paid to prepaid cards as well, don't know if that applies to tax refunds.

I'm surprised to learn that you must file a return in the US if you earn any income. In Canada, it is only necessary to file if you owe tax. Since there is a basic exemption, many part time earners don't owe any taxes, although many are entitled to refunds or tax credits.

 

[Mousey]

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from ABC news.

 

[vinylweatherman]

Not sure about the US, but here you can have your tax refund direct deposited to a bank account. Open an account with the fake ID, obtain a bank card and presto!

I think I've read that government cheques can be paid to prepaid cards as well, don't know if that applies to tax refunds.

I'm surprised to learn that you must file a return in the US if you earn any income. In Canada, it is only necessary to file if you owe tax. Since there is a basic exemption, many part time earners don't owe any taxes, although many are entitled to refunds or tax credits.

In the UK, employers have to operate a system called PAYE that deducts taxes from salaries. This means most people don't have to send in returns as the system covers their income. It is when you earn income that falls outside this system, such as from casual work, or from abroad, that you have to send in a return. Even refunds are handled automatically.

There is one problem though, and that is that by trusting PAYE, many people have ended up paying too much tax, and haven't noticed because they have never submitted a return and done the maths. Submitting a return is how you get any refund due, and there are companies that will do this on your behalf (for a fee), and end up getting refunds in many cases. One can go back 6 years to claim a refund, and this is what these companies do - check the last 6 years, and if there is a refund due, they do all the work, but take a cut, up to 30% in some cases.

Direct payment into a bank account could easily beat the system if the bank has been fooled into considering the account genuine. Perhaps the IRS have been too trusting of the banks, and this is why this scam has become big business.

It could well spread over here.

 

[weesie]

If you made $1.00 you need to file within the US, so you're saying you didn't make any income since 2007?

If you make $500.00-$600.00 in a year, you do not have to file taxes. Also, if you are retired or disabled and on Social Security with NO additional income, you do not have to file taxes.

 

[anniemac]

P.V. - The income I receive is not taxable therefore I don't have to file a tax return unless I have an income from something else per the US tax laws.

I will tell you this, it's a pain in the ass dealing with this stuff. And the not knowing what has actually happened and what could happen suck big time.

 

[Mousey]

P.V. - The income I receive is not taxable therefore I don't have to file a tax return unless I have an income from something else per the US tax laws.

I will tell you this, it's a pain in the ass dealing with this stuff. And the not knowing what has actually happened and what could happen suck big time.

It's creepy.... the not knowing, I mean.

Did the IRS lady give you any resources to check your credit reports? One of the people I was reading about not only had IRS returns filed in her name, the crook had set up bank accounts and was getting loans in her name!

Just as a side note to the casino reps: See why we don't want to give SS#??!? Wish I could remember which casino(s) used to request this..... Jeez....

 

[harrys99]

Very sorry to hear that this happened to you Anniemac and for all the troubles it has and will cause you

 

[anniemac]

Mousey,

She was extremely helpful. I've contacted credit reporting agencies to put a fraud alert on my accounts and am going to put a freeze on them also. Ordered reports to find out if anything has come across.

I have had some strange calls regarding loans but didn't think anything about it just put it off as spam callers.

I will guarantee you this, never will I give out any personal information to anyone ever again.


But just to give a quick explain on what IRS told me. These people don't necessarily actually work under your name but they get your information and then file a tax return with fraudelent wage info on it hoping that IRS won't catch it. Then they get the refund and are on their merry way, using my info to cash it or whatever. Now that in itself it pretty damn scary.

I know they have my DL information because of the address on IRS letter plus SS#. But just think of all the places that you give out your DL information. In Texas your DL is used for verify everything. Go to the Dr., need a copy of DL. Go to the hospital, need a copy of DL. Use your bank card anywhere, need to see your DL.

There has got to be a better way.

 

[Stovetopp]

I live in South Florida, the largest, biggest rip off of ANY GOVERNMENT "giveways"
We have the largest Medicare fraud , personal wise, through docrors and even corporation
for eg the company our present governor of florida was head of was indicted on medicare fraud however , for some reason he was not charged or maybe because its Florida
Ok to get back to the post. South Florida is the largest in this type of scam and actually its very easy.

IRS will nake tax return payments directly to your CHECKING OR SAVINGS Acccount. I n addition, they will also make direct deposit to your DEBIT card.

So the crooks, make up a false return, send it in and have the refund sent to the debit card. I assume they only require the 16 digit number of the card because the crooks here open several debit cards purchased at any western union or walmart winndixie and so forth.
So far for this year South floeida has scammed in excess of 2or 3 billion already courtesy the US Govt.

I will try and find the article just recently posted by The Miami newspaper and give ther url here

If you are a con man, a fraudster, investment advisor, dope dealer , insurance scam artist, spouse murderer (as seen on investidation ID tv, you will see most of the shows happenmed in Florida) Come On down We weelcome you You will feel so much at home

 

[P.V.]

P.V. - The income I receive is not taxable therefore I don't have to file a tax return unless I have an income from something else per the US tax laws.

I will tell you this, it's a pain in the ass dealing with this stuff. And the not knowing what has actually happened and what could happen suck big time.

I understand but you had to file in order to receive a refund, so you haven't had to pay since 2007. I got it now.

Hope it gets worked out.

 

[vinylweatherman]

I live in South Florida, the largest, biggest rip off of ANY GOVERNMENT "giveways"
We have the largest Medicare fraud , personal wise, through docrors and even corporation
for eg the company our present governor of florida was head of was indicted on medicare fraud however , for some reason he was not charged or maybe because its Florida
Ok to get back to the post. South Florida is the largest in this type of scam and actually its very easy.

IRS will nake tax return payments directly to your CHECKING OR SAVINGS Acccount. I n addition, they will also make direct deposit to your DEBIT card.

So the crooks, make up a false return, send it in and have the refund sent to the debit card. I assume they only require the 16 digit number of the card because the crooks here open several debit cards purchased at any western union or walmart winndixie and so forth.
So far for this year South floeida has scammed in excess of 2or 3 billion already courtesy the US Govt.

I will try and find the article just recently posted by The Miami newspaper and give ther url here

If you are a con man, a fraudster, investment advisor, dope dealer , insurance scam artist, spouse murderer (as seen on investidation ID tv, you will see most of the shows happenmed in Florida) Come On down We weelcome you You will feel so much at home

It will teach the US government to get it's priorities in order. They have been saying the danger is from offshore, justifying their witch hunt against ALL offshore betting and gambling operations as they suck money from the US, the treasury, and funnel it into organised crime and terrorism. Now, right in their own back yard, several billion has just been handed over without question by the IRS to scammers, who are certain to be involved in organised crime. I bet this is more than the treasury has gained from all the seizures and compensation deals done with offshore gambling firms and their processors.

It's not unique to the US either. The UK have been accused of spending time and effort pulling in additional taxes, only to have several times the amount gained lost through scams they didn't consider a priority.


It is usually the "big fish" that cause the greatest losses, but often it is the "small fry" that are hunted down in their millions for small underpayments and minor mistakes because the "big fish" are also powerful, and can make life unpleasant for officials and politicians who try to come after them for their underpayments and dodges. An extreme example of this has been Greece, who are virtually bust because so many people considered paying their taxes as optional, and only for the stupid. Those in charge were happy to turn a blind eye as they too were taking advantage.

 

[ksech]

Annie, I am so very sorry this is happening to you! It totally sucks

Our government is so messed up. It caters to the illegals, and those who have never worked a day in their lives, but push out babies year after year. From December 2010 to January of this year I've had 4 strokes, in March of this year I had 2 stents placed in the left artery of my heart. Because I've attempted to work I was denied any disability, any type of Food stamp aid, any heating assistance. I was forced to cash in all of my life insurance policies (which means I have to live forever cause I don't have any money to bury myself LMAO) and my 401K. I am currently unemployed and am unable to collect unemployment because I didn't make enough money (I was on restricted employment). And I'll probably have to PAY at tax time because I cashed everything in!

Yet these people suck the system dry, and then at tax time they can collect for every deduction under the sun! WTF!!!! Am I angry? You bet, they walk around with their piercings and their tats (which aren't cheap!) and they are eating way better than you and I!

Whatever you do...don't move to NY unless you are looking for freebies and you know how to work the system, cause you'll be paying out your a$$ in taxes. Didn't ya know...we have the most dysfunctional state government...the only thing they can agree on is their pay raises!

 

[naththo]

Oh no I am awfully sorry to hear that Annie that really sucks is it? I am glad you make a swift move to put freeze on those.

 

[Diane]

Got a letter today from the IRS telling me that they were holding my refund for 2011 to check it out further.

But, I don't have to file a tax return and haven't since 2007. I called the IRS fraud department and sure enough, someone is trying to file a tax return in my name with my details. The address that the IRS sent the letter to is the address on my driver's license, which is not my full mailing address.

Now I've got to file with the IRS, Social Security, FTC and so on and so on. B@#st##ds!!!!!

So, keep a very close eye on your goods. I thought I was.

This is horrible for you -- I can only imagine the worry and stress. I am sorry. Another reminder for us to always be vigilant.

Good luck and try to stay calm...

Diane

 

[Seventh777]

Being self employed and responsible for paying my taxes directly and not being stopped at source, i`m aware of various fiddles that go on, the most common is the dead man fiddle, which works like this - A friend for example is doing a huge amount of cash in hand work and needs to cover his ass via a proper income source, I put his name on my books and give him the absolute minimum wage possible, this has the knock on affect of reducing my annual tax returns also as I now have another 6 monthly or yearly wage outlay to claim tax back on (not that I would do stuff like this, but, it`s a basic fiddle that many people do).

 

[farookh]

If you made $1.00 you need to file within the US, so you're saying you didn't make any income since 2007?

Actually, you can make up to 8k (single) without filing. Check the IRS guidelines.

 

[farookh]

Actually, you can make up to 8k (single) without filing. Check the IRS guidelines.

Filing Status: Single
* Your age (on 12/31/11): Under 65 (Gross income threshold: $9,500)

 

[anniemac]

So far so good. I haven't found anything really strange on any banking or credit reports.

Just to be proactive, I have changed most all my stuff to different banks, cards etc. And I am done sending a copy of my DL, SS card etc. to anybody.

As for why I don't file income tax, here's the answer. My husband was killed on the job in 1997. The company he worked for was a member of the Texas Workmens Comp insurance pool. I receive payment from them. It is not taxable nor is it reported anywhere. Therefore I do not have to file any income tax report unless I have income other than that above the minimum income alotted. If I worked, won gambling etc. then I would have to file a tax return for that income.

Have found out one thing, you holler identity theft now and the credit reporting companies are more than happy to help you. LOL! Not so much with the Marion County Sheriff's Office though.

 

[anniemac]

Latest update on this mess.

Got a certified letter from the IRS today. They informed me that they were not going to pay my refund (the tax return I didn't file that caused all this mess). Well DUH!

So anyway, I called to see what was actually going on with my claim and to get any information I could about the fraudelent return so I could pursue legally if I could. IRS agent told me that they couldn't give me any information whatsoever off of the return because, wait for it, wait, it was PRIVATE!

Well, crap, it's my name and personal data on the damn thing. So they are going to protect the crook that stole me ID and filed the return and I'm hung out to dry.

Does this make any sense to anyone? Really?

 

[Mouche12]

This is just incredible Annie - what kinds of XXX are working at the IRS?

In the Netherlands all citizens who file their tax returns online (which I believe is 70% of all citizens) have a private code + a password. It prevents crooks and frauds from filing fake tax returns or anything else related to tax matters. Perhaps the IRS should come up with something similar. Half a million cases to be investigated you mentioned, it baffles me.

I hope this all gets sorted out, take care.

 

[bsilva028]

So far so good. I haven't found anything really strange on any banking or credit reports.

Just to be proactive, I have changed most all my stuff to different banks, cards etc. And I am done sending a copy of my DL, SS card etc. to anybody.

As for why I don't file income tax, here's the answer. My husband was killed on the job in 1997. The company he worked for was a member of the Texas Workmens Comp insurance pool. I receive payment from them. It is not taxable nor is it reported anywhere. Therefore I do not have to file any income tax report unless I have income other than that above the minimum income alotted. If I worked, won gambling etc. then I would have to file a tax return for that income.

Have found out one thing, you holler identity theft now and the credit reporting companies are more than happy to help you. LOL! Not so much with the Marion County Sheriff's Office though.

i thought things like that was only in portugal

 

[vinylweatherman]

Latest update on this mess.

Got a certified letter from the IRS today. They informed me that they were not going to pay my refund (the tax return I didn't file that caused all this mess). Well DUH!

So anyway, I called to see what was actually going on with my claim and to get any information I could about the fraudelent return so I could pursue legally if I could. IRS agent told me that they couldn't give me any information whatsoever off of the return because, wait for it, wait, it was PRIVATE!

Well, crap, it's my name and personal data on the damn thing. So they are going to protect the crook that stole me ID and filed the return and I'm hung out to dry.

Does this make any sense to anyone? Really?

Do you have anything like the UK Data Protection Act over there?

Under our act, we have a remedy against such "jobsworth" attitudes. If the UK tax office tried this, we could make a formal data disclosure request under this act, and it would mean that ALL data they held on us had to be disclosed to us. The act is often used to get past such BS attitudes.

We also have a Freedom of Information act, but it only applies to government departments, not private companies.

If you were going to take action against this fraudster anyway, start by asking your lawyer about forcing the IRS to disclose all the data they hold on you, which should include this tax return data.

 

[dreamguardian1]

If you made $1.00 you need to file within the US, so you're saying you didn't make any income since 2007?

Umm actually that is not correct/ Full time students who only receive financial aid but not scholarships do not have to file. People who receive Social Security benefits and that is their only income do not have to file if they made under $24,000.00 in social security for the year. A person is not required to file if they made under $10,000.00 for the year. Lots of hidden rules.

 

[dreamguardian1]

On another note. hang in there Anem. If you need help and live in or around California let me know. Just send a PM here and I can get you to some top level help. That said, try to resolve first but within two weeks if you dont hear anything holler.

 

[mush]

wow, I've never heard of people actually filing returns with the IRS under someone else's name/SSN like this and I'm not really sure how that works or is even a working scam for them, but I guess it is. My guess would be that 99.9% of cases the IRS investigates because of what appears to be unreported income for an individual, involves someone (usually an illegal immigrant) using another person's SSN for employment. All of the wages they earn are reported to the IRS by the employer under the SSN of someone else and as far as the IRS knows/is concerned the person who that SSN belongs to earned that money and didn't pay taxes on it.

 

[dreamguardian1]

I cant believe the dollar amounts and the number of accounts that are affected. THE IRS is able to freeze assets and bank accounts within minutes. I know they done it to me twice after the state screwed up my tax returns and added a few zero's. They got it fixed reversed it same day but then next day withdrew every penny from my account. I called the ombudsman who looked into it and the girl forgot to hit one key which automatically caused my account another freeze and LIEN. They refunded it all plus my bank fees two days later and sent an apology letter and note to the bank to not hold me accountable for their error, so how the hell are people able to do this on such a massive scale.