In this interview, hosts discuss the growing threat of tax‑refund identity theft, where criminals file fraudulent returns using a victim’s personal information to steal the refund. Robert Siciliano, CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com, explains that the IRS relies on an honor system, making forged documents like 1099s easy to produce. He advises practical steps to protect oneself: secure physical mail with a locking mailbox, lock homes and offices, and enroll in fraud alerts to help restore identity if compromised. Siciliano also warns that the IRS never initiates phone calls or emails requesting personal data; any such contact should be ignored or deleted. The segment emphasizes both physical security and vigilance against phishing scams to prevent tax‑refund fraud.
Chapters
Alright, here it comes, the tax man. Tax day is just one month away from today, and now there's something else taxpayers have to worry about. The information you need to know.
And maybe if you're home and you're working on your taxes today, you know it is rough enough to put everything together, all those receipts, but there is a new threat this year and it is on the rise. The threat of someone stealing your refund. How do they do it? Well, they file a fake tax return using your name, your identity, and they get your refund check. The IRS is concerned as identity theft rises. How do we protect ourselves? We're going to talk to internet ID theft security expert Robert Siciliano. He's CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com. When I first heard about this, I was so concerned because everyone— a lot of people that have had this happen, they send in their return and the IRS either says, "We had it already. We sent you your refund," and they have no idea that their identity was stolen. Stolen. So how do you prevent it in the first place?
Well, the problem here is that the IRS processes all this documentation based on the honor system, and that at any given point in time, anybody can forge all that documentation. So for instance, you get information in the mail that, you know, 1099s and so forth, all of that can be reproduced. So first, do things like get a locking mailbox, get involved in fraud alerts that will also work towards towards restoring your identity in the event your identity is compromised. Make sure that you're locking your home and your office so that information can't be stolen. A lot of people don't think about physical security when it comes to protecting their identities.
And what I've heard is that you can get an email and it says, "This is the IRS and basically we need your Social Security number and, you know, your income reported." The IRS does not send these emails, correct?
The IRS does not make phone calls or send emails asking you for identifying information. Always just hang up or just hit the delete, delete button. Do not respond to any emails or phone calls saying that they're coming from the IRS, ever.
All right, we're glad to get that warning out, Robert Siciliano. Thank you very much.
