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Someone took my information and filed two fraudulent tax returns under my name.

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Hi. I'm Andrea Avery, United States Postal Inspector.

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Tax season is upon us, and soon, we'll all be filing our income tax returns.

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It's also the season for tax refund fraud.

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In this scam, identity thieves typically use stolen names and Social Security numbers

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to file phony electronic tax returns and then receive their refunds.

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Listen to this letter carrier talking about the flood of refund checks on his route:

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Every home on the street was getting one. And they were all in fraudulent names.

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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 the credit reporting agencies.

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It can help stop thieves from opening new accounts and causing more damage to your credit.

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Remember, thieves don't just use your information once - they use it again and again.

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Get a free copy of your credit report annually to verify your information is correct.

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For more information on tax and other scams, visit USPIS.Gov.