IRS Identity Fraud Prevention Specialist Arrested For Identity Fraud, Filing Fraudulent Tax Returns
from the multiple-layers-of-thievery dept
In late spring of last year, more than 100,000 taxpayers had their personally-identifiable information accessed by criminals. It wasn't a security breach, nor was it accomplished by "hacking." Instead, it was the result of the IRS using common static identifiers to verify accounts -- information that could easily be found elsewhere. These were deployed to access transcripts of taxpayers' filing histories. The transcripts gave criminals the information they were actually seeking: Social Security numbers, birth dates and current addresses.
The IRS promised to be less easily "hacked" going forward. It didn't mention any specific steps it would take. "Protocols" would be "strengthened" and taxpayers known to be compromised (likely a smaller number than those actually compromised) were given the consolation prize of free credit monitoring and a "Sorry about that" letter from the IRS.
In addition, efforts were mounted to further protect taxpayers from identity fraud, which, to date, has produced a study, a "working group" and a press release. This may prove fruitful in the future (actual implementation date still TBA...), but it's too bad the agency couldn't be bothered to escalate its defensive efforts until after catastrophe had already struck. And it does nothing at all for past hurtful efforts made by "helpful" government employees. (via Overlawyered)
Federal officials today announced arrests and charges in a stolen identity tax-refund scheme believed to involve more than $1 million in false claims and run by an IRS employee who was supposed to be assisting taxpayers experiencing problems resulting from identity theft.Hall, having access to taxpayer information as an IRS employee, apparently orchestrated the scheme. Fraudulent tax refunds were routed to prepaid debit cards. These cards were then sent to a variety of fake home addresses set up by the three conspirators -- one of which is already doing time on an unrelated charge.
A federal grand jury earlier this month indicted NAKEISHA HALL, JIMMIE GOODMAN and ABDULLA COLEMAN for their involvement in a 2008 to 2011 scheme operated out of Birmingham that involved stealing personal identity information from the Internal Revenue Service to create fraudulent tax returns and collecting the stolen refunds…
There you have it. The IRS is unable to protect you from outside threats or inside threats. It's still generally satisfactory when it comes to closing doors on empty barns, though. And, Nakeisha Hall -- tasked with preventing ID theft but instead engaging in it -- transfers to the US Dept. of Irony, joining such luminaries as Air Force chief of Sexual Assault Prevention (arrested for sexual assault) and the Obama administration (whose open government workshop was closed to the public).
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Filed Under: identity fraud, identity theft, irs, nakeisha hall, scams
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Look over there....
Pessimism is in vogue this year.
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Re: Look over there....
These words are NO JOKE!
The Price of Liberty is Eternal Vigilance!
It sure does suck to be surrounded by what seems to be a majority of citizens that simultaneously talk about how tired they are of the corruption which doing everything necessary for that very same corruption to thrive!
We often get the government we deserve!
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As scary as it is out of all the future candidates, I think Trump is likely the most trustworthy. At least you know exactly what he stands for and will follow through. Maybe if he becomes president, it will cause our government to implode and we can start over.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Look over there....
I would trust Trump as far as I could throw a grand piano.
What do you think Trump's "final solution" will be?
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So, that's the lesson for the IRS. Get a process for everything and force everybody to stick to it. No exceptions.
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Thanks for the Link, figure this should spawn a couple flaming chain mails
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There are processes in place that ...
Why would it be any different for a government agency that deals in billions of tax dollars
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wasn't there a time........
Maybe it was just a dream I had.........
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Class action lawsuit
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Also, industry wants you to think your id has been "stolen" when in fact they have been the victim of fraud and then try to get you to pay up for their lack of due diligence.
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Closing the barn door after the cows all escaped?
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Re: Closing the barn door after the cows all escaped?
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I had the system alert my bosses several times and my requests were completely legal.
I am not saying the story is wrong....I just have worked in several cities and thought I knew the IRS system fairly well.
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