CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – With the 2023 tax season just getting started, there is a concern for an increase in tax scammers.
The Identity Theft Tax Refund Fraud Information Sharing ISAC Mission and Analysis Center (ISAC) 2022 annual report reported difficulties during tax filing season 2022. It has become increasingly common for thieves to file fraudulent claims and take advantage of programs established through pandemic-related legislation related to tax refunds. This is reflected in attacks from every possible vector using stolen identity information and mounting elaborate tax returns.
The ISAC platform’s users’ ability to detect schemes early and share industry information quickly has never been more important. Through the ISAC many taxpayers were protected from financial losses and damage from new alert schemes. Identity theft tax refund fraud, as well as other attempts to steal from the tax system, are partners that will not go away. Though many successes have been achieved, the number of attacks is large and growing, both in terms of volume and sophistication, and has spread to other business sectors, such as supply chain attacks and social media scams.
The report found that eight million tax forms appeared suspicious in 2022, up from two million in 2021. 22News spoke to an expert on why there has been an increase in people that have experience identity theft….
