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Judi Lynn

(160,654 posts) Fri Apr 1, 2016, 01:31 AM Apr 2016

States fight surge in fake tax filings from identity thieves

Source: Associated Press

States fight surge in fake tax filings from identity thieves

Donna Bryson, Associated Press
Updated 12:06 am, Friday, April 1, 2016

For the first time, the Kentucky Revenue Department this year is asking taxpayers to wait.

Kentucky and other states are becoming more forthright, telling taxpayers they'll have to be patient and allow time for verification before refunds are sent.

It's one of several new steps against what officials say is an upsurge in identity thieves filing false returns and directing the ill-gotten refunds to their own accounts. State officials also are turning to outsiders for help, quizzing taxpayers more closely about their identities and contemplating new legislation.

It's likely just the beginning of a long fight, said Edwin King, chief of staff of Kentucky's Finance and Administration Cabinet.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/States-fight-surge-in-fake-tax-filings-from-7221666.php

2 replies

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States fight surge in fake tax filings from identity thieves (Original Post) Judi Lynn Apr 2016 OP

My tax preparer was telling me she's seeing it like crazy Zira Apr 2016 #1

I remember when tax crime was stealing a tax return check from a mailbox... C Moon Apr 2016 #2

Zira

(1,054 posts)

1. My tax preparer was telling me she's seeing it like crazy

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Fri Apr 1, 2016, 01:38 AM

Apr 2016

and it's worse this year than last, and last year was bad.

We really need to get off the social security numbers.

C Moon

(12,223 posts)

2. I remember when tax crime was stealing a tax return check from a mailbox...

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Fri Apr 1, 2016, 01:45 AM

Apr 2016

and cashing it at a liquor store. They always sent the return checks in letter sized manila envelopes—der!
That happened to me when I was living in Hollywood—and it took a few months to get my return.
The signature on the back of the forged check was hilarious: it looked like it was slowly written, in a very neat script writing.
My guess is that the person who accepted the check was in on the scheme.

But that was only a couple hundred dollars. Now they're going for thousands. :O

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