OT Tax Fraud

John B. · Mar 11, 2015

We were a victim of tax fraud this year. I finally got it straightened out this morning. They are having trouble with their website which it won't let me post it here but I got a number to call which is 1 800 830-5084. I was on hold for 24 minutes but a real person did finally answer and we got our issue cleared up in about 15 minutes. I am so relieved. Just want to pass this number on to all of you in hopes it will help if you need it.. HAve a good day.

Texasmark1 · Mar 11, 2015

Thanks. Someone get your SS#? Any idea how?

rbhuntn · Mar 11, 2015

This is a bigger issue this year than ever before. Turbo Tax had to shutdown e-filing for a while due to the number of fraudulent tax filings.

Wife works for H&R Block and they have been hearing a ton about it also. It is making a life difficult for those that this is happening to no doubt.

Dave H (MI) · Mar 11, 2015

I guess that is a legit IRS number, although a couple hits suggested otherwise and others said it was. Curious to find out how you had this resolved in 15 minutes though? Any that came thru my office required you to file an IRS affidavit and certain other steps to get it resolved. We are also having to provide a lot of information to Michigan. Michigan estimates 10-12 month turnaround on refund. How did you get it resolved in 15 minutes? What was the process?

I don't think I have to tell anyone here that it would be unwise to grab that number off the thread and start offering the person who answers a lot of personal info...do I? Go to the IRS site and work thru channels...or better yet, grab their link to affidavit Form 14039 and fax it to the number in the instructions. Then contact your state and go thru their process. Then contact the police and get a report you will need when you contact Equifax and get a flag put on your credit report. It don't happen in 15 minutes.

Dave H (MI) · Mar 11, 2015

Two sources loom here so far. One is leaks in employer computer security at the workplace. Two seems to be from an insurance company out west somewhere (forget the name) that had a breech in security and dumped a zillion SS#'s into the hands of heaven knows who. Just be careful with your information, this is something that is getting worse each year. I hear so much about folks carrying guns in their cars as a crime prevention...oops...they came in on the phone line!

Mike (WA) · Mar 11, 2015

Well, if you're on Medicare, its pretty easy- Medicare uses your SS# as your account number, and you have to give your card to the nice ladies at the front counter every time you go to the doc. Oh, and your SS# is also your service number if you're in the military.

Sure convenient having a universal number for all your guvment business. It makes it so much easier for the scammers.

dhermesc · Mar 11, 2015

Every credit card and credit report has you ss number too. Ever heard how many millions of credit, debit and bank accounts have been compromised by hackers in the last year? Then its just been revealed that Blue Cross (80 MILLION PEOPLE) was hacked last year too.

To be honest I seriously doubt there's a person left in the US that someone doesn't have their name, birthdate and SS number.

And the federal government doesn't tell anyone when they are hacked - healthcare.gov was an open book to anyone that wanted to look and its estimated every person that submitted information has had their SS information borrowed from the site (can't say stolen when it was never secured in the first place).

SparepartsTN · Mar 11, 2015

So you think your SS number should be private? The Electric company wanted it as a customer ID, told them no, the next time I saw them they proudly announced that they had my SS number. I was looking to change insurance companies recently, called USAA for auto insurance, they said they can't give a quote without my SS number, claimed it was part of the Patriot Act and required by that law, I told them to stuff it! Strange that the other insurance companies didn't feel compelled to require my number to offer a quote or sell me insurance.

TomH in PA · Mar 11, 2015

The reason for so much fraud this year is because a certain administration in Washington thought it would be a good idea to allow anyone who says they're a tax preparer to file an electronic return in someone else's name.

What could go wrong?

Would you like to be a Tax Preparer so you can file other people's tax returns? No problem, you don't even need a Social Security Number of your own: http://www.irs.gov/Tax-Professionals/PTIN-Top-FAQ-3

John B. · Mar 11, 2015

I'm sorry Dave but when I got this number and was connected after 24 minutes to a live person all they needed was for me to answer about 6 questions that only I would know to prove my identity. One phone call to the number is all it takes. I had to go through a lot of other red tape and numbers until I got to this one. It all started from the 5071C form that I received in the mail. If you haven't done it you don't really know!

John B. · Mar 11, 2015

Texasmark1, I asked the IRS agent I talked with and he asked if I had Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance and we do. He said that BCBS had their files hacked and that's probably where they got it from.

Dave H (MI) · Mar 11, 2015

I'm not sure what you are apologizing for. The letter you received was about identity theft. I have done two of these so far this year and I am realistically only three weeks into individual income tax season. Both required the affidavit to be filed, etc etc. I'm not busting your chops. I'm concerned you did not really fix anything. Having said that...it's nothing to me. Move on with your life and hope for the best.

Dave H (MI) · Mar 11, 2015

That is incorrect, Tom. I go thru that application every December. You cannot just go in and sign up. The IRS has been restricting who can prepare tax returns for a while now. A good deal of info is required to be provided before you can be a tax preparer these day. Some credentials also.

T in NE · Mar 11, 2015

Ohio has been randomly picking people to have them call in and answer a few questions, to try to get a leg up on the fraudsters. They can't catch them all but they will probably catch a few.

Mark-Mi · Mar 11, 2015

I got a letter from the blue company stating they were hacked and now someone else has my information. Never thought it would happen to me.

1130Leo · Mar 12, 2015

It is this kind of thing that has made me keep using paper checks, and NEVER access my bank accounts via internet. I work in the computer world, make my living that pays for my farming habbit with computers, and I still do not trust or like them....

rbhuntn · Mar 12, 2015

Hey guys be careful of any numbers you got off the irs.gov website the last couple of days.

Wife works for H&R Block and was telling me that the IRS site got hacked and the IRS home page was re-directed so you could have gotten a bogus number.

Just say'n

Texasmark1 · Mar 12, 2015

Funny I never heard/read about that. I use their pill insurance. No problems so far and taxes are long gone so if they're after me they're to late.

Thanks

Bret4207 · Mar 12, 2015

There was a law that said an SS# could not be used for ID. As with many laws, that one seems to have been completely ignored.

OT Tax Fraud

John B.

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Texasmark1

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rbhuntn

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Dave H (MI)

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Dave H (MI)

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Mike (WA)

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dhermesc

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SparepartsTN

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TomH in PA

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John B.

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John B.

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Dave H (MI)

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T in NE

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