Crime & Safety

3 Victimized in Tax Return Fraud in Plymouth Township

The following information was provided by the Plymouth Township Police Department. Arrests do not indicate a conviction.

Plymouth Township Police responded Feb. 26 to a residence on Graefield Circle to meet with a man reporting a case of identity theft, according to a police report.

The man told police on Feb. 25 he received a letter in the mail from the Internal Revenue Service indicating his tax return was under review. The man told police he hadn’t yet filed his  tax return, so he contacted the IRS, who told him someone had already filed a tax return using his Social Security number and name, but used an incorrect middle initial, and used an incorrect street name, the report indicated.

The man told police the IRS is not going to pay the fraudulent tax return and wdas advised to file a report with local police.

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The man told police he was the victim of identity theft about two months ago, where someone had used his credit card number and that his wife had filed a police report regarding the ID theft.

Second victim reports fraudulent tax return

Plymouth Township Police met Feb. 26 at the station with another man reporting identity theft, according to a police report.

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The man told police he received a notice in the mail from the IRS indicating the bureau received hi 2012 income tax return and was in the process of conducting a thorough review of his return. The man told police he had not yet filed his taxes.

The man told police he contacted the IRS and learned an unknown person filed his taxes through the IRS’ E-File option. The IRS told the man to complete an IRS complaint form and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. The man told police he also put a flag on his credit report.

A Plymouth Township officer spoke again with the man on Feb. 28, who told police no discrepancies were found with his credit report and that he signed up for future safeguards against identity theft.

According to the report, the IRS is handling the investigation.

Third person victimized in tax return fraud

Plymouth Township Police met March 1 at the station with a woman who reported receiving a letter in the mail from the IRS indicating someone had already filed her 2012 income tax return using her name and Social Security number.

The woman told police the IRS instructed her to attach a form reporting the fraud to her actual 2012 federal tax return and told her to report the fraud to credit reporting companies and the Federal Trade Commission.

The woman told police neither she nor her husband have seen any other unusual activity with their financial matters, and neither could supply police with possible suspects.

A fourth such incident also was reported to Plymouth Township Police in February.

For questions about this crime report, email john.mckay@patch.com.


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