What An Alarming To Begin the Year

Yesterday I received a phone call at home from someone claiming to be from some agency that was representing the lab for a doctor visit that took place in August of 2006. She confirmed my name then stated her ‘name’ and the name of the company she represented and even stated the actual doctor that I visited. She named a medical term I never heard of (although I barely know any) and claimed that I owed $100 to the lab because my insurance only picked up my visit. I immediately responded that I needed to see it in writing and she could either fax it to me or send it by snail mail. She then proceeded to confirm my address and upon doing so, she noted an address of which I lived at 8 years ago. At that point I realized that this was some sort of scam and I immediately told her that if she in fact had info on me from a doctor visit that took place last year, that she in fact should have my most recent address of which I was not going to disclose. She said ‘ok’ and hung up. It was really alarming to know that she obviously obtained some info from me from somewhere to know my name, my home phone and one of my previous addresses. Readers, please take heed to my experience and protect your identity. This posting contains some useful information as well as resources to help you out.

Identity Theft and Your Tax Records How can someone steal your identity? Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information such as your name, Social Security number, or other identifying information, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes.Identity theft is a serious crime. People whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years – and their hard-earned money – cleaning up the mess thieves have made of their good name and credit record. In the meantime, victims may lose job opportunities, be refused loans, education, housing or cars, or even get arrested for crimes they didn’t commit. IDENTITY THEFT AFFECTS TAX RECORDS How are my tax records affected by Identity Theft? Generally, identity thieves use someone’s personal data to steal his or her financial accounts and run up charges on the victim’s existing credit cards; but you need to be aware of some other potential areas where this type of fraud may occur as they relate directly to your tax records. Undocumented workers or some other individuals may use your Social Security Number to get a job. – That person’s employer would report W-2 wages earned using your information to the IRS so it might appear that you did not report all of your income on your return. An identity thief may file a tax return using your Social Security Number to receive a refund. – If the thief already filed a return using your Social Security Number, the IRS will believe that you already filed and received your refund, and the return you just submitted is a second copy or duplicate. If you do receive a notice from the IRS that leads you to believe someone may have used your Social Security Number fraudulently, please notify the IRS immediately by responding to the name and number printed on the notice or letter. Be alert to possible identity theft if the notice or letter states that: -more than one tax return for you was filed, or -IRS records indicate you received wages from an employer unknown to you. - If you receive a notice, contact them either by phone or in writing as directed in that notice. The tax examiners will work with you and other agencies, such as the Social Security Administration, to help resolve the problem. You should also know that the IRS does not initiate requests for personal taxpayer information through e-mail. If you do receive this type of request, it may be an attempt from identity thieves to get your private tax information. The IRS has established an e-mail box where taxpayers can report or forward phony e-mails to phishing@irs.gov. Also remember that if you use a tax professional to prepare your tax returns, be as careful as you would in choosing a doctor or a lawyer. The tax preparer you select will have access to your personal financial records. Ask your friends and coworkers to recommend a preparer they know and trust. Avoid preparers who claim they can obtain larger refunds than other preparers, or who guarantee results or base fees on a percentage of the amount of the refund. Click Here for additional information regarding identity theft and your taxes

Minimize Becoming an Identity Theft Victim Don’t carry your social security card, memorize your number. Protect your financial information. Shred your mail and other financial documents. Check your credit report every 12 months. Don’t give personal information over the phone unless you have initiated contact. Consider adding a verbal password to all of your accounts including utility accounts. A password would eliminate the chances of someone accessing your account and/or changing the billing address. Don’t leave your outgoing mail in your residential mailbox. Place it into a nearby postal mailbox or visit the Post Office personally.

Identity Theft Resources Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

OnGuard Online

Preventing Identity Theft: A Guide for Consumers