Identity Thieves Obtain 100,000 Electronic Filing PINs From IRS System (csoonline.com)

itwbennett writes: In January attackers targeted an IRS Web application in an attempt to obtain E-file PINs corresponding to 464,000 previously stolen social security numbers (SSNs) and other taxpayer data. The automated bot was blocked by the IRS after obtaining 100,000 PINs. The IRS said in a statement Tuesday that the SSNs were not stolen from the agency and that the agency would be notifying affected taxpayers.

Comments

Re:Excellent!

[quetwo]

If it only worked that way. The real game they are playing is to file your taxes with a bunch of fake dependents, every dedication they can take, etc., in order to drive up a refund. They then send the refund to a bank account they own and run away with the money, usually several thousand dollars. This often happens without you knowing at all. When you try to submit your real tax return, the IRS bounces it because you already filed. You then have to go through all sorts of hoops to prove to the IRS you are filing your real taxes and you don't need to pay them back the refund they've already send "you".

It happened to one of my co-workers last year. He didn't get it cleaned up until nearly August -- and he had to spend several hundred hours on the phone, in court, at the IRS office, etc. to get everything straightened out.

Re:Excellent!

[Mateorabi]

If e-file is blocked you paper file. It takes several affidavits and certified mail and some phone calls, not 100s of hours and court. Though in my case they sent ME the initial "we think something's hinkey with your return" letter before I had even tried to file. I did have to wait 6 months from April to get the check in the mail.

What annoys me is that the IRS reps always give you a condescending tone about getting your taxes in early, because first-through-the-gate wins. They ignore the fact that fraudsters are making up the filing data and don't have to wait for the actual W2 to get sent out. It's February and I'm still waiting on some 1099s to finish my paperwork.

I'm a bit scared now because their PIN system was down last Nov/Dec, and when I tried to get in early January after it was back up an account had already been made and PIN accessed but I have no memory of signing up. I was able to "recover" the account. The lady on the phone with IRS insisted I just forgot I had done it already (impossible) and insisted there was no way I was hacked and recommended AGAINST voiding the PIN and getting a replacement--which is apparently a PITA for them and a huge delay to file. "Just file early" she said.....