(Source: By Kevin Hunt, The Hartford Courant, Conn.) - Here are the Dirty Dozen tax scams the IRS warns taxpayers to avoid:

Identity Theft

Topping this year’s list Dirty Dozen list is identity theft.

The IRS is increasingly seeing identity thieves looking for ways to use a legitimate taxpayer’s identity and personal information to file a tax return and claim a fraudulent refund.

An IRS notice informing a taxpayer that more than one return was filed in the taxpayer’s name or that the taxpayer received wages from an unknown employer may be the first tip off the individual receives that he or she has been victimized.

Anyone who believes his or her personal information has been stolen and used for tax purposes should immediately contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit.

For more information, visit the special identity theft page at www.IRS.gov/identitytheft .

Phishing

Phishing is a scam typically carried out with the help of unsolicited email or a fake website that poses as a legitimate site to lure in potential victims and prompt them…………………continues on LoanSafe
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In 2010, eight million people were victims of identity theft. That same year, almost 50 million people paid for identity theft protection services. Consumer Reports studied those services to see if they are worth the outlay.

Greg Daugherty, a money adviser for Consumer Reports, said, “We found the companies often overstate the risk and puff up the power of their services.”

The companies promise to alert you to unusual activity with services like “daily credit monitoring,” and they promise to “protect personal information” like your Social Security number. Consumer Reports looked at nearly two dozen plans that cost between $ 120 and $ 300 a year.

Their recommendation: Save your money.

“It turns out you can do much of this monitoring yourself for little or no cost,” Daugherty said.

Everyone can get a free credit report free, once a year, from each of the three major reporting agencies — Experian, Equifax and TransUnion — and check it for suspicious activity.

Daugherty suggests WRAL.com
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ID fraud insurance provider sees shares suspended
Article from Which?:

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The Internal Revenue Service has issued its annual “Dirty Dozen” ranking of tax scams, reminding taxpayers to use caution during tax season to protect themselves against a wide range of schemes ranging from identity theft to return preparer fraud.

The Dirty Dozen listing, compiled by the IRS each year, lists a variety of common scams taxpayers can encounter at any point during the year. But many of these schemes peak during filing season as people prepare their tax returns.

“Taxpayers should be careful and avoid falling into a trap with the Dirty Dozen,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. “Scam artists will tempt people in-person, on-line and by e-mail with misleading promises about lost refunds and free money. Don’t be fooled by these scams.”

Illegal scams can lead to significant penalties and interest and possible criminal prosecution. The IRS Criminal Investigation Division works closely with the Department of Justice to shutdown s…………………continues on Alexandria Echo Press
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Identity theft, illegals and kids
Article from Examiner.com:

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Truth iѕ thеre are many possibilities whеn іt соmes to identity theft and whаt hарреns wіth уоur information depends on which information wаѕ stolen аs well аs whаt kind оf hacker stole it.

Some hackers аrе likе petty thieves аnd wіll steel information fоr their own personal uѕе whilе other identity thieves wіll sell уоur information on thе black market. Here’s а list оf ѕоme оf the ways thаt make уour information ѕо “marketable”:

- credit card information cаn bе uѕеd to make purchases or withdrawals

- information from medical records iѕ оften usеd tо gеt treatments undеr аnother person’s name

- bank information iѕ uѕed tо make withdrawals and purchases

- stolen passports аre uѕеd for travel аnd changing identity (for criminals and illegal immigrants)

- stolen SS numbers аrе for changing identity, securing а job, and dodging taxes

So hоw do yоu protect уоursеlf frоm аll оf this?

It’s crucial to know that there’ѕ no оnе wаy that саn ensure complete computer privacy аnd safety agaіnst identity theft. One technique уоu сan uѕe tо kеер уour information hacker safe with уour banks/credit companies and оn yоur comp…………………continues on EQuicknews
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Free shredding protects against identity theft
Article from The Herald | HeraldOnline.com:

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Identity Theft: Reclaiming Who God Created You to Be
Identity theft. We all know the damage it inflicts—or do we? There’s a kind of identity theft that goes far deeper than our fina…

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The Complete Idiot’s Guide  To Recovering From Identity Theft will  lead you to a clear path to take back your identity and rest…

Hawking or buying into blacklisted tax ideas can attract heavy fines or even prison. The IRS warns the public of the worst tax scams annually, now in Hollywood-style videos.

Here’s what to avoid.

1. Identity Theft. The IRS has launched a comprehensive strategy against identify theft including reviews for false returns and help to victims of identity theft refund schemes. If you believe personal information has been used contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit immediately. Also visit the special identity theft page here. See Identity Thieves Target IRS Data.

2. Phishing. The IRS does not request personal or financial information by email. Phishing is unsolicited emails or fake websites prompting victims to cough up personal financial details. Report unsolicited emails that appear to be from the IRS or an IRS-linked organization. Send it to phishing@irs.gov. The IRS can help you protect yourself from email scams.

3. Return Preparer Fraud. Many taxpayers use preparers and most provide honest services. Yet a few skim client refunds, charge inflated fees or promise inf…………………continues on ABC News
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Stopping thieves before they steal your child’s identity
Article from Baltimore Sun:
As concern grows over child identity theft, Maryland is considering legislation that would make the state the first in the nation to protect a youngster’s credit report.

Minors aren’t supposed to have such reports because they’re too young to get credit. But the Maryland legislation would allow parents or guardians to create a credit file for a child and then immediately freeze it. This would prevent a thief from opening credit under the child’s name.

“It’s a great step in the right direction,” says Bo Holland, chief executive of AllClear ID, an identity protection company in Austin, Texas.

Indeed, this is good news for Maryland parents and would put the state in the forefront of protecting children against this crime. The bill won’t prevent all ID fraud, but it could stop devastating credit fraud before it happens. The legislation has bipartisan support and is expected to pass.

But even if it becomes law, the protection will be effective only if parents take advantage of it.

It’s unknown h…………………continues on Baltimore Sun
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Identity Theft Protection Rubber Stamp – Large (42050-SEC-K) – SHIPS FREE
Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America and identity theft protection is a major concern for individuals, b…

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A new suspense/comedy from first time writer/director James Ward. Identity Theft tells the story of Matt Walker (Ward), a man who …

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The Internal Revenue Service is grappling with a surge in identity theft-based tax fraud as crooks take advantage of web-based resources including electronic filing.

Identity theft cases, in which criminals obtain living or deceased people’s names and Social Security numbers to defraud the government, ranked No. 1 on an annual “Dirty Dozen” list of tax scams the agency released Thursday. The IRS called ID theft one of the most complex threats it handles.

The IRS estimates 404,000 people were victimized by identity theft tax fraud from mid-2009 to the end of 2011.

“We are seeing growth in this area. There’s no way around it,” said Terry Lemons, IRS director of communications. “But I also think that we’ve gotten better at detecting it.”

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NORTHAMPTON: Former cashier pleads guilty in identity thefts
Article from Delmarva Now:

EASTVILLE — Even the simple act of handing over a personal check in a grocery store is an opportunity for some to take personal information.

That’s even when the person receiving the check is a cashier who works for the store.

A former Food Lion cashier pleaded guilty to obtaining money by false pretenses, identity theft and giving false information to defraud.

Antonio Lemonz Walker, 23, of Exmore used his position as checker at the grocery store at Shore Plaza in Exmore to obtain the checking account and bank routing numbers from customers’ checks.

A presentence report was ordered before Walker is formally sentenced, probably during the next term of court.

“I will ask for a significant sentence,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Bruce Jones.

Food Lion cashiers use an electronic funds transfer system that automatically fills out a customer’s blank check. The cashier runs it through a computer and gives it back.

But Walker didn’t return the checks to the customers. He took them home and used the numbers to make purchases.

Among other items, he used the information to make a vehicle payment and to buy five Sprint cellular…………………continues on Delmarva Now
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Identity theft protection: Money well spent… or waste of money?
Article from WXYZ:

(WXYZ) – It can be frightening when someone steals your financial information and goes on a shopping spree. That fear has helped drive sales of identify-theft protection services.

Americans are spending an estimated $ 3.5 billion a year on these services. But Consumer Reports says save your money!

Consumer Reports Money Adviser says the rate of ID theft is actually declining and found the companies often overstate the risk and puff up the power of their services.

Consumer Reports Money Adviser looked at nearly two dozen plans that cost $ 120 to $ 300 a year. It turns out you can do much of this monitoring yourself for little or no cost.

Start by getting your credit report free, once a year, from each of the three major reporting agencies, Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Look them over for anything suspicious.

Next put a security freeze on your file with the same credit agencies. That blocks access to your credit report and makes it more difficult for a crook to get new credit in your name.

Also sign up for free alerts from your card issuer. These red flag higher-than-usual charges on your accounts. And rou…………………continues on WXYZ
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© Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Woman suspected in ID theft turns herself in
Article from Mail Tribune:

February 15, 2012

One of the Medford women suspected of stealing a victim’s identity to go on a shopping spree at a Minute Market has turned herself in to police.

Tanya Marie Bearden, 23, came to Medford police today, admitting she was one of the suspects in a recent identity theft case, police said.

Bearden has been lodged in the Jackson County Jail on charges of unlawful entry into a motor vehicle, identity theft, fraudulent use of a credit card and second-degree theft. She is held on $ 45,000 bail.

Bearden reportedly broke into a car on Hybiscus Road last week and stole debit and credit cards and a food stamp card that was later used to purchase $ 90 worth of items at a nearby Minute Market.

Be…………………continues on Mail Tribune
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