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Northbrook, Ill. – March 30, 2023 – Taxpayers could get decrease refunds this 12 months, however that’s not stopping scammers from attempting to steal them.
Allstate Identity Protection is reporting a 68% spike in tax and authorities fraud instances in 2022 over 2021. In reality, tax refund fraud was the third most reported fraud sort in 2022, in response to the AIP Identity Fraud in Focus report.
“We get a lot of calls about identity theft every year during tax season,” stated Dustin Hofstein, Chief Service Officer at Allstate Identity Protection. “Refunds are stolen when a scammer uses your Social Security number to file a tax return. Unfortunately, people often don’t know they’re a victim of tax fraud until they file their taxes, which is why we advise filing as early as possible.”
The IRS flagged $5.7 billion in tax fraud in 2022, and there have been practically 8 million experiences of suspicious tax-season actions.
Allstate Identity Protection is reminding individuals to be diligent and act on warning indicators early to maintain their id and cash protected.
5 warning indicators of tax id theft
- You file your taxes they usually’re declined. This is an indication a scammer has already used your Social Security quantity to file a phony tax return. As a consequence, the IRS can’t settle for your digital or paper return.
- IRS information don’t have your right employment historical past or wages.
- The IRS notifies you about an extra tax or refund offset you weren’t anticipating.
- You get a letter from the IRS saying your on-line account has been deactivated,
- You’ve been assigned an employer identification quantity you didn’t request.
“One of the best ways to protect yourself is to safeguard your Social Security number,” Hofstein stated. “Never keep your Social Security card in your car, wallet or purse, and be careful sharing your number, even when asked.”
Consider signing up for an id safety service for further peace of thoughts. Allstate Identity Protection reimburses out-of-pocket prices for numerous sorts of fraud, together with stolen tax refunds.
To study extra about 2023 fraud predictions and probably the most prevalent scams of 2022, try Identity Fraud in Focus, the Allstate Identity Protection quarterly report. It contains insights from thousands and thousands of id theft instances to maintain households safer on-line.
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