Physician Social Security Numbers Compromised - Fraudulent IRS Tax Filings
Since reporting last week about an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax scam affecting physicians nationwide, MSDC has received numerous reports from physicians in the District who have been impacted by this serious tax identity scam. According to the reports, fraudulent income tax returns have been filed using physician names, addresses and Social Security numbers. Dozens of physicians in the Washington, D.C. area and hundreds more across the nation have been impacted.
IRS officials believe this scam is an attempt to fraudulently recover tax refunds. Physicians have become aware of the scam after attempting to file their 2013 income tax returns with the IRS and learning that a return has already been filed under their Social Security number. The source of the breach is currently unknown and under investigation. The Medical Society is working with the U.S. Secret Service in its investigation of this breach. The Medical Society has also alerted the DC Board of Medicine, Attorney General and Office of Tax and Revenue.
Even if this has not happened to you, it may have happened to one of your colleagues. For this reason, the Medical Society wants all physicians to be aware of the increased risk of identity theft. Please feel free to share this information with your colleagues.
For Physician Victims of Identity Theft
Physicians who have been victimized are encouraged to contact MSDC Executive Vice President Ed Shanbacker at 202-466-1800 or shanbacker@msdc.org. Physicians will receive recommended next steps as well as information on how to cooperate, if they are so willing, with the U.S Secret Service.
Precautionary Measures for Physicians
There is no reason to believe that all physicians are at risk, but below are some recommended precautionary measures:
- ACCESS IRS IDENTITY PROTECTION RESOURCES: The IRS has tools and information available on its identity protection information page to help fight identity theft. The IRS is also sending letters to suspected fraud victims with instructions to visit the IRS identity theft website or call the IRS at (800) 830-5084.
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FILE A 90-DAY FRAUD ALERT: You can place yourself on a 90-day credit fraud alert if you seek additional protection. This could potentially slow or halt further attempted identity theft activities. A fraud alert can be initiated at one of the three credit bureaus:
We understand that Experian will feed information and fraud alerts to the other two major credit reporting agencies. If you remain concerned, it is suggested that you go back to the credit bureau after 89 days to initiate subsequent 90-day credit fraud alerts.
Please contact MSDC at 202-466-1800 or email Ed Shanbacker at shanbacker@msdc.org with any questions.
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