Identity theft linked to fraudulent tax returns

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And identity thieves -- may be trying to get their hands on your tax return that's a warning in new government report.

The details a sharp increase in the number of spammers.

Filing -- fraudulent returns.

Science and technology editor Jeremy -- from foxnews.com -- with a snap.

It looks like they have stolen tens of thousands of people's.

Hundreds of thousands hundreds of -- potentially more potentially billions of dollars part of the problem here.

This new report from the general accountability office just identifies that there is a problem.

The IRS says they don't really know the extent of the problem it's very hard for them to track and to identify that something like this is happy explained exactly what is going on here.

What it's really nefarious and frankly it hasn't discussed it and it's just it's it's scary to think about you know -- -- gamers.

Buying something at a store is one thing but these guys filing fraudulent tax return to something else to check on -- would file my tax returns.

Using their address and then if I had a refund it would come back to them that's it exactly and the challenge comes in because.

If you're like me -- -- -- getting a refund -- -- like well let me just -- this as soon as I can you can file as soon as January.

Businesses and financial institutions don't have to file their information with the government until the end of march.

So oftentimes the iris doesn't have the information needs to -- fire cross check what's gone on.

-- just.

This looks correct -- here's the here's a debit card or credit Carter authority.

Whatever counted as was deposited money right in there they can't check that it's happened and -- so what are we supposed to do to protect ourselves.

Well here's the real problem you know there's not a lot you can do at this point and it's very easy -- gamers to get their hands on Social Security numbers it's easy for them to tie -- to a name.

And I guess I mean I think you know this is the thing but I guess it's easy for them to finally I would have thought of that -- -- -- nefarious that the best thing I can say to people is.

Get that credit report you know you can get a free credit report once a year.

Make sure that you're checking that darned thing because if this has happened and maybe you don't even know about it media didn't cross check the amounts of your tax return you got the check.

Who -- what's gone on it's very easy freedom miss something like that you're the one it's going to be checking it can.

Part German so it gets a software update it to your antivirus software I always say that's ever gonna get that get the virus software you know make sure you're not passing on information -- you -- but I think the credit report is is an essential thing in this case you weren't chairman thank you --

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Identity theft linked to fraudulent tax returns

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