Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is urging consumers to protect themselves. Tax-related identity theft occurs when someone uses stolen personal information to file a phony tax return and claim the refund for themselves.
Attorney General Nessel says quote, “Bad actors will stop at nothing to steal our personal information and hard-earned money,” adding, “With Tax Day just over a week away, it’s imperative that everyone knows the signs of identity theft.”
Steps you can take to protect yourself and avoid becoming a victim include, not giving your Social Security number out-unless you know it’s a safe source, if you file electronically, do so on a secure internet connection and if filing by mail, send your return directly from the post office.
The IRS will never call or text taxpayers with threats of lawsuits or arrests, nor will they ask them to wire money or pay with a gift card or prepaid debit card.
If you find you’re a victim of identity theft or need help, you can find more information with the consumer protection team at Michigan.gov/ConsumerProtection
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