Mortgage Updates

Identity thieves get your personal information by many different means, including stealing a wallet or purse or accessing information you provide to an unsecured Internet site. (If on social media sites... DO NOT include your birthday information beyond day and month.

They even look for personal information in your trash. They also pose as someone who needs information through a phone call or e-mail.

If you receive an e-mail scam, forward it to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov.

If you receive a letter from the IRS leading you to believe your identity has been stolen, respond immediately to the name, address or phone number on the IRS notice.

Your identity may be stolen if a letter from the IRS indicates more than one tax return was filed for you or the letter states you received wages from an employer you don’t know.

If your Social Security number is stolen, it may be used by another individual to get a job. That person’s employer would report income earned to the IRS using your Social Security number, making it appear that you did not report all of your income on your tax return.

This could allow that individual to acquire credit under your ssi number... You can get an annual free credit report through http://www.annualcreditreport.gov   This is a truly FREE report.  Also, it will not negatively impact your credit scores.

If your tax records are not currently affected by identity theft, but you believe you may be at risk due to a lost wallet, questionable credit card activity, or credit report, you need to provide the IRS with proof of your identity.

You should submit a copy of your valid government-issued identification – such as a Social Security card, driver's license, or passport – along with a copy of a police report and/or a completed Form 14039, IRS Identity Theft Affidavit.

Just a smart thing to do... Only show your Social Security card to your employer when you start a job or to your financial institution for tax reporting  or loan purposes. Do not routinely carry your card or other documents that display your SSN.

The IRS has a special phone line for Identity Theft- IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit, toll-free at 1-800-908-4490.

For more information about identity theft – including information about how to report identity theft, phishing and related fraudulent activity – visit the IRS Identity Theft Resource Page, click here