Identity theft happens when someone steals your personal information and uses it without your permission. It's a serious crime that can wreak havoc with your finances, credit history, and reputation - and can take time, money, and patience to resolve.
The IRS has taken numerous steps to combat identity theft and protect taxpayers. We are continually looking at ways to increase data security and protect taxpayers' identities with assistance from our Identity Protection Specialized Unit. Identity theft cases are among the most complex ones we handle.
Tips for Preventing Identity Loss Identity thieves steal your personal information to commit fraud. They can damage your credit status and cost you time and money restoring your good name. To reduce your risk of becoming a victim, follow the tips below: Don't carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write it on your checks.
You don't need to buy ID theft protection to protect your identity. Get the information you need from Consumer Reports.
It's a bad time to be living in South Carolina if you value your privacy. A hacker struck the South Carolina Department of Revenue and stole 3.6 million Social Security numbers and data from 387,000 credit and debit card accounts. The sad part is that this was the third successful attack in two months!
Child identify theft is often a crime that is not realized until years later after damage has already been done to a stolen identity, Governor Cuomo said. New Yorkers need to be aware of this growing trend. I encourage parents and guardians to be proactive in their efforts to protect their children's identities and personal information.
