Police are reporting a trend in theft related to tax season.
Victim Ann Wiseman of Powell recently got a call from the Internal Revenue Service.
“I figured something was up when I couldn't file electronically,” said Wiseman.
Wiseman said she had been kicked out of the online system.
She said she is a victim of fraud in a case that is under investigation. Wiseman reports that someone used her social security number to file a phony tax return. It claimed that she was single and well off financially.
“We've always filed married and jointly for over 30 years, and all of the sudden I'm filing singly,” said Wiseman.
The red flags went up, and the hardship began.
Wiseman has worked to repair her name by sending proof of identity to the IRS, calling the Federal Trade Commission, filing a police report and contacting credit agencies.
“It just kind of consumes your energy, you know, and there is nothing you can do,” she added.
Whoever took Wiseman’s information did not get the big payday they were looking for, because the IRS froze the account. Also, Wiseman said she owes money this year.
“I hope they get caught at least it would save somebody else the aggravation,” she added.
CrimeTracker 10 also found reports of similar tax refund scams in Dublin and parts of Delaware County.
The IRS said identity thieves access your personal information many different ways. They can include:
- Stealing your wallet or purse
- Posing as someone else through a phone call, email or social media
- Looking through your trash for personal information
- Accessing information you provide to an unsecured Internet site
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