FTC to Host Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week Jan. 25-29

The Federal Trade Commission will conduct a week of events Jan. 25-29 to raise consumer awareness about the threat posed by tax identity theft, a scam that puts thousands of people at risk every year.

Tax identity theft typically happens when a scammer files a fraudulent tax return using another individual’s Social Security number and receives a refund electronically. A person typically discovers they have been a victim of tax identity theft when they go to file their own tax return, only to be informed by the Internal Revenue Service that a return has already been filed in their name.

This year’s Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week will focus on steering people to IdentityTheft.gov, the federal government’s one-stop resource to help identity theft victims – including tax identity theft victims – fix the problems caused by identity theft. People will have an opportunity to learn more at the following events (all times listed are Eastern):

• Jan. 26, 2 p.m.: the FTC and AARP’s Fraud Watch Network and Tax Aide Program will co-host a webinar for consumers addressing how tax identity theft happens and what people should do if they become a victim.
• Jan. 27, 11 a.m.: the FTC and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will host a Twitter chat with information about tax identity theft for veterans – the chat will use the hashtag #VeteranIDTheft.
• Jan. 27, 2 p.m.: the FTC, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and the VA will host a webinar with information about tax identity theft for veterans.
• Jan. 28, 1 p.m.: the FTC and the IRS will co-host a webinar with information to assist victims of tax identity theft.
• Jan. 29, 2 p.m.: the FTC and the Identity Theft Resource Center will co-host a Twitter chat about tax ID theft – the chat will use the hashtag #IDTheftChat.

In addition to these events, the FTC has created a wide array of materials to help educate people about this growing issue, all of which can be found at ftc.gov/taxidtheft. The materials are available in English and Spanish, and also feature ways in which people can share information about tax identity theft with their friends and families.