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Soon we'll be filing our income tax returns.
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It's also the time for tax identity  thieves to come out of hibernation.
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These scammers typically use stolen  names and Social Security numbers
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to obtain tax refunds by filing  phony electronic tax returns.
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Fraudsters have caused hundreds of  thousands of people to lose their money
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and access to government services  as a result of this scam.
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If you suspect you're a  victim of tax refund fraud,
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act fast and alert your financial  institutions and credit reporting agencies.
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It can help stop thieves from opening new accounts
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and causing more damage to your credit.
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Remember thieves don't just  use your information once,
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they use it again and again.
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Get a free copy of your credit report annually
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to verify your information is correct.
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For more information on tax
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and other scams,
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visit uspis.gov.