Identity Theft

Stephen Leventhal

Explanation of Identity Fraud

• The fraudulent acquisition and use of a person's private identifying information usually for financial gain.

Current Scams • Tax-Related ID Theft Is on the Rise

• National Tax Advocate Nina Olson said during congressional testimony in August 2013 that her office saw cases of stolen identity rise by 61 percent from fiscal year 2011 to fiscal year 2012. They had risen again by 32 percent in the first three quarters of fiscal year 2013.

• The IRS is working hard to stop ID theft through a series of filters that help flag potentially fraudulent returns. The IRS can adjust the filters each year as more is learned about how the thieves operate.

• The IRS also has improved its assistance to victims. Those who substantiate their identity and address will be issued an Identity Protection PIN. This unique number must be used in conjunction with the victim’s Social Security Number. The IRS will delay processing of returns filed without this IP PIN to protect taxpayers from being victimized again.

• Nonetheless, about 1.6 million Americans were victims of ID theft/tax refund crimes through June 2013, up from 1.2 million taxpayers in all of 2012, according to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration in a report that described the phenomenon as an “epidemic.”

Tips

• Don’t give personal information out on phone• Buy from only Secure sites while online

shopping• Make sure no one is around when using an

ATM

STATS

Useful Websites

• Fraud.org • Idt911.org

FAQ

• How can I avoid ID theft? Make passwords secure and don’t give them out over the phone.

• How do I report Identity theft? Just call the police and tell them of your problem

Citations • http://www.neamb.com/shopping-discounts/you-need-to-know-about-the-latest-id-

theft-scams.htm

• https://www.google.com/search?q=identity+theft+stats&es_sm=93&tbm=isch&imgil=d6Sy_qQRToUuzM%253A%253Bhttps%253A%252F%252Fencrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com%252Fimages%253Fq%253Dtbn%253AANd9GcSQng_A8uCh6aAn-hKFZ5vUFT9n1d_RQ7jruEjqPQ-kWdSTULPPOQ%253B575%253B484%253B0V9LZDI9OqyTqM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.sileo.com%25252Fidentity-theft-statistics-gallup-poll%25252F&source=iu&usg=__daDOholxvHl3kanN461XAwSV2tk%3D&sa=X&ei=jQqGU-3nNavhsASe04HoCQ&ved=0CEEQ9QEwAA#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=3paek4st1rMcmM%253A%3BupV8vdGCor60FM%3Bhttps%253A%252F%252Flh5.googleusercontent.com%252F-XDxYcC-n9DI%252FU0HNp-a0EsI%252FAAAAAAAAAH4%252FJ6IeOEQ2uUo%252Fw540-h444%252Fidentity-theft-statistics-2012-5113.gif%3Bhttps%253A%252F%252Fplus.google.com%252F%252BTsicreditdivision101%3B540%3B444