This tax season the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s West Valley Division saw a total of 29 tax-related identity thefts since the beginning of the year.
According to Sgt. James Jensen of the sheriff’s office, several cases involved people in other states using Cupertino resident’s Social Security numbers and names to falsely file taxes.
In one case in March, a unknown person attempted to deposit a Cupertino resident’s tax return totaling $4,106.02 into their account, although the resident had not yet filed their taxes.
Such scams are seen regionally this time of year and have prompted both the Los Altos and Mountain View police departments to send blast email warnings to citizens.
Phone scams in particular have targeted citizens in general throughout the country, Los Altos police reported. Telephone callers often claim to be employees of the IRS, PG&E, cable company, a local or foreign law enforcement agency or other collection agencies.
Los Altos reported that victims are told they owe money and it must be paid promptly through a pre-loaded debit card or wire transfer. If the victim refuses to cooperate, they are then threatened with arrest, deportation or suspension of a business or driver’s license, or termination of services.
One Cupertino woman was threatened recently that her house would be repossessed and her children would be taken away by Child Protection Services, according to West Valley Division records.
In Sunnyvale, there have been reports regarding people trying to file their taxes using Turbo Tax and then receiving an error that the Social Security number has already been used.
Sunnyvale has had approximately 20 cases so far this year compared to 30 last year.
“As for people avoiding being victims, the best advice is to check credit reports regularly, not provide information to strangers over the phone when contacted by services claiming to be legitimate,” said Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety Capt. Jeffrey Hunter. “Any legitimate bank or service will allow you to call back in and confirm their identity prior to releasing information.”
Law enforcement agencies in the region are sharing similar advice.
“The IRS will not call you and demand money from you,” said Sgt. James Jensen of the sheriff’s office.
Nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having mailed a bill. They won’t demand tax payment without giving the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say is owed. The IRS won’t ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone or threaten to bring in local police or other law enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying either.
Police advise that people who are called by someone claiming to be from the IRS to call the IRS directly if you know you owe taxes or you think you might owe taxes, at 800.829.1040. If you know you don’t owe taxes, then call and report the incident to the treasury inspector general for tax administration at 800.366.4484.
