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Tax Refunds Are Vulnerable To Identity Theft

Rocco A. Carriero by Rocco A. Carriero
March 6, 2013
in Real Estate
Home Real Estate

Hollywood may have just produced a film playing on the issue, but real identity theft is no laughing matter. Victims are devastated by decimated bank accounts, destroyed credit scores and an intrusion on their privacy. Our growing reliance on electronic data and systems has increased our vulnerability and created new opportunities for identity theft in unexpected places—including your federal tax refund.

According to the House of Representative’s Committee on Oversight & Government Reform, identity theft-related tax fraud is a growing problem. The crime works like this: a thief steals a Social Security number and then diverts the individual’s tax refund into a personal account that is quickly drained before the victim is aware of the theft. The fraud may not be discovered until the taxpayer attempts to file a return or claim a refund, and it can take months for the IRS to investigate and return the funds to the rightful owner.

The IRS has recently doubled its efforts to prevent this type of fraud and address victim concerns, but you should also take some steps to protect yourself. Your best defense is to prevent your personal financial information from falling into the wrong hands. Here are some guidelines for protecting yourself from tax refund fraud.

Protect your Social Security number. Your government-issued identification is prized information to thieves intent on opening fake accounts and claiming refunds that don’t belong to them. Keep your card in a safe place in your home rather than in your wallet and don’t provide your number unless absolutely necessary.

Monitor your financial accounts. Check your account balances and transactions regularly to spot unauthorized activity.

Check your credit reports. You are entitled to a free credit report annually from each of the three major credit bureaus: Experian, Transunion and Equifax. If you notice adverse credit actions or accounts that you did not open yourself, take action.

Keep financial documents secure. Keep hard copies of your returns under lock and key, and shred statements you no longer need. Criminals have been known to go through personal trash in pursuit of financial records.

Take extra care online. Maintain a firewall on your personal computer and avoid accessing your financial information on open networks. Clear your browser history and “cookies” (the little files that remember passwords or previous visits to websites) before and after e-filing your taxes or visiting financial sites that contain your private information.

Beware phishing schemes. “Phishing” is a method of falsely soliciting information with criminal intent. Identity thieves have become more sophisticated, using design programs to replicate logos and create emails and even websites that look legitimate, but are not. If you receive an email that appears to be from the IRS—or any institution, for that matter—that contains a request for your social security number or financial accounts, it is probably a phishing scam that should be forwarded to the agency it is attempting to represent.

Contact the proper authorities if you suspect you’ve been a victim of identity theft. If your tax refund is involved, notify the IRS by completing IRS Identity Theft Affidavit (form 14039), which can be found at irs.gov. Also contact your bank, credit card companies and the local police. Talk to your financial advisor for additional help establishing safeguards for your financial information.

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Rocco A. Carriero

Rocco A. Carriero

Rocco is a Private Wealth Advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. in Southampton, NY. He specializes in fee-based financial planning and asset management strategies and has been in practice for over 20 years. Advisors is licensed/registered to do business with U.S. residents only in the states of NY, NJ, TX, MA, PA, NC, NH, UT, NV, CA, NM, WA, VT, MS, MD, RI, FL, MO, SC, GA, MN, CT, AZ. Ameriprise Financial Services Inc., and its representatives do not provide tax or legal advice. Consumers should consult with their tax advisor or attorney regarding their specific situation. Brokerage, investment and financial advisory services are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC.

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  • Join Arootah in the Hamptons! @arootahcoach @imentororg 

The Hamptons Summer Fête
Wednesday, Aug. 17 
from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. 

Save Your Spot 
Share a drink and hors d’oeuvres, enjoy live music, and bid on items. 

Join for their fundraiser event to support iMentor youth. 

RSVP in our LinkTree⬆️
#fundraiser #imentor #imentornyc #Hamptons #mentor
  • Broadway Out East Returns with the Biggest Stars Performing at Calissa

Broadway Out East returns this summer season at local hotspot Calissa. The Mediterranean hotspot located at 1020 Montauk Highway will host a series of performances by some of Broadway’s most talented stars including Andrew Barth Feldman, Teal Wicks, Kathryn Allison, and Brandon Victor Dixon. Broadway Out East is produced by Justin Smith, the Concertmaster of Dear Evan Hansen.  Performances at Calissa will take place each Thursday from August 11th, through August 25th. @calissahamptons

Read the full article at Hamptons.com (Link in Bio) #calissa #broadway #hamptons #summer #broadwayouteast
  • The 2022 Hampton Designer Showhouse Returns to the Hamptons this Summer

The highly acclaimed Hampton Designer Showhouse will return this Summer to Southampton, NY with a completed reimagined stately home presented by HC&G (Hamptons Cottages & Gardens). For the past 22 years, the Hampton Designer Showhouse has been the showcase for some of America’s premier design talent and has raised nearly $2M for Stony Brook Southampton Hospital since its inception. @hamptondesignershowhouse

Read the full article at Hamptons.com (Link in Bio) #hamptonsdesignershowhouse #designershowhouse #hamptons #hamptonsdesigns
  • The Oscar Molina Gallery’s Molina / Vignoli Exhibition

The Oscar Molina Gallery announces the exhibition Molina / Vignoli  that will be on view from August 11th to August 22nd.. Curated by Esperanza León, the exhibition at this intimate space on Jobs Lane brings together a selection of works by Oscar Molina and Fernando Vignoli for whom the interpretation of human dramas—individual and global—is a consistent theme. Paintings from Molina’s Raindrops series, such as the recent 66 x 120-inch, untitled acrylic on canvas, will be featured with four of Vignoli’s works, including the prominent 73 x 73-inch oil on canvas from 2008 titled Time Does Not Stop. @omolina.arts

Read the full article at Hamptons.com (Link in Bio) #oscarmolina #art #local #hamptons
  • Léon 1909 Debuts on Shelter Island

On Sunday, August 7, owner & restaurateur Valerie Mnuchin welcomed a lively crowd of Shelter Island neighbors, local business owners, tastemakers, friends and family to preview Léon 1909, her transportive, new restaurant opening to the public this week on Thursday, August 11. @leonshelterisland

Read the full article at Hamptons.com (Link in Bio) #leon1909 #shelterisland #hamptons #dining #french
  • Mykola Khodorovsky at Art Market Hamptons

Art Market Hamptons will return to the Hamptons for the twelfth edition in August 2022. The premier art fair will be held August 11-14 in Water Mill. It will feature 85 top galleries, several of which are located on the East End, as well as Nova’s Ark Project & Sculpture Garden. @artmarketproductions @mykola_fine_art

One of the artists in attendance this year is Mykola Khodorovsky of Mykola Fine Art, a multi-talented painter, who has traveled from Florida for the anticipated event in the Hamptons. He spoke more about his artwork, his influences, and what those in attendance can expect from Art Market Hamptons beginning this Thursday!

Read the full article at Hamptons.com (Link in Bio) #hamptons #artmarket #art #local #watermill #artfair
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