An Elmore County, Ala. tax return preparer was indicted in the Middle District of Alabama for tax fraud and identity theft, according to an announcement by the Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service.
Sharon D. Thurman, owner of Sharon’s Tax Services, was charged with 14 counts of making false claims for tax refunds, two counts of aggravated identity theft, and two counts of theft of government money.
According to the indictment, Thurman knowingly used the name and Social Security numbers of individuals to steal tax refunds from the IRS. The indictment also states that Thurman sought at least $53,548 in fraudulent tax refunds from the IRS during the 2007 tax year.
If convicted, Thurman faces a maximum of 94 years in prison and a maximum fine of $4 million.
Although tax season is a few months away, you can bet identity thieves are already looking for new and “improved” ways to steal your information so they can file fraudulent claims. All a thief needs, as illustrated in the Thurman case, is your Social Security number. And he can get that number easily enough off of financial documents and by scamming you into answering e-mails or phone calls from fake IRS agents – just two of the many scams used.
But there is something you can do to help keep your information safe. First of all, double-check that your incoming mail is secure. A thief can’t resist a mailbox full of W-2, 1099 and other end-of-year statements from banks, employers of investment account holders.
Second of all, choose your tax preparer carefully. Some organizations that pop up during tax season are just fly-by-night operations that literally close up shot after your taxes are filed. Not only is this a problem for the accuracy of your taxes, but these outfits are less likely to guard your personal information and documents, or shred them before disposal.
Don’t believe just anyone who says he is from the IRS. If you receive an e-mail from the IRS asking for personal or financial information, delete it; do not answer it. The IRS does not e-mail taxpayers about issues related to their accounts, nor will the IRS ask for details or Social Security numbers over the phone.
Be sure you store and dispose of your paperwork carefully. Identity thieves are notorious dumpster divers. Lock this information up. And last, remember that while filing taxes online is fine, you should first make sure you’ve updated your firewall, antivirus and anti-spyware software. If you file by mail, take your envelope to the post office; don’t leave it in your mailbox.
