Tax filing season is approaching and Northfield Twp Police encourages residents to file early in order to lessen the opportunity for Tax refund fraud. Hundreds of thousands to possibly millions of U.S citizens are victims of tax refund fraud annually. Even if not due a refund, fraudsters may file in your name, claiming a refund and leaving you a mess to clear up. Although, the IRS has increased security measures to help prevent and/or identify such fraudulent returns; Identity thieves are already testing these defenses. January is also a good time to request your annual free credit report from each of the major bureaus. For more frequent checks, request a copy of your file every four months, using a different credit bureau. With ongoing data breaches, if your personal information has been compromised, take advantage of free monitoring services offered by the compromised company. Placing a “security freeze” on your credit file with the major credit bureaus can proactively prevent identity theft. Stay diligent in monitoring your financial statements and file a police report if you have been a victim of fraud.
