Crime & Safety

Wellesley Residents Victims of IRS Scam

Police on Tuesday offered tips on how to avoid becoming a victim.

The following is from Wellesley police:

Over the past few months the Wellesley Police Department has received several reports from residents that they have become a victim of a fraudulent scam involving a tax refund from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This particular crime is a form of identity theft, in that the offender steals the victim’s name, address, and social security number. The offender then uses this information to file a fraudulent tax return with the IRS. The offender subsequently receives a refund check from the IRS.
              
If someone has fraudulently filed a tax return in your name, you may not lose any money as a result of the crime. Taxpayers may see their actual tax refunds delayed while the IRS is investigating the fraudulent claim. Because a victim’s social security number has been compromised, there are several steps to take to prevent further crimes. In addition to following the instructions outlined by the IRS, victims of tax refund fraud should report incidents to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), file a report with local police, and contact the fraud department of the three major credit agencies.
 
The IRS has seen a large increase in identity theft crimes in the past three years, and currently has over 3,000 employees working on identity theft issues. The IRS has several articles on their website to make you aware of the various types of fraud they encounter, and the steps to take if you are a victim. There are also tips for taxpayers on how to avoid becoming a victim to these types of crimes. 

Here is further information about IRS Refund Fraud: http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/Tips-for-Taxpayers,-Victims-about-Identity-Theft-and-Tax-Returns-2014


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