Charleston Currents – identity theft

FOCUS: Advice on how to avoid identity theft during tax season

With tax season in full swing, the S.C,Department of Revenue (SCDOR) reminds South Carolinians to be on the lookout for identity theft schemes.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, tax-related identity theft occurs when someone uses a Social Security number (SSN) and other personal data to file a bogus tax return and receive the refund. The IRS warns taxpayers to look for the following signs of identity theft:

+ Receiving a letter from the IRS or the SCDOR asking about a tax return you did not file
+ Learning you cannot file a tax return online because of a duplicate SSN
+ Receiving an IRS notice that an online account has been created in your name or an existing account has been accessed or disabled
+ Receiving an IRS or SCDOR notice about collection efforts for taxes from a year you did not file a return …

by Charleston Currents · 02/10/2020 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

2/10, FULL ISSUE: On identity theft, Uncle Joe, more

IN THIS EDITION
TODAY’S FOCUS: Advice on how to avoid identity theft during tax season
COMMENTARY, Brack: Don’t count out Uncle Joe, South Carolina
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Charleston International Airport
NEWS BRIEFS: Former lawmakers hold informal reunion
FEEDBACK: Enjoy Brack’s columns
MYSTERY PHOTO: The sea life
CALENDAR: Symphony quintet to perform March 21 for Parks Foundation

by Charleston Currents · 02/10/2020 · Comments are Disabled · Full issue

MORRIS: Identity theft and your role in protecting your data

By Kyra Morris, contributing editor | The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the U.S. government’s central repository for identity (ID) theft complaints and provides victim assistance and consumer education. In 2014, one billion records – Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, health records, and private photos — were taken. Forty percent of all identity thefts are tax- or wage-related.

In 2015, the IRS “Get Transcript” data breach involved potentially 724,000 compromised accounts. The thieves were able to transcend a multi-step authentication process that required prior personal knowledge about the taxpayers. There was also an additional step where several personal identity verification questions typically only known by the taxpayer were correctly answered.