Tag: Identity Theft

‘Amid Continued Threats’ IRS Warns Against Identity Theft of American Taxpayers

The IRS has kicked off a summer campaign to prepare tax professionals, and more broadly, the nation’s tax community, against potential identity theft attempts of clients and their own establishments. On Tuesday, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced the start of its “Protect Your Clients: Protect Yourself” campaign aimed at “ensuring tax professionals stay alert…


Oregon’s DMV System Caught up in Global Hack, Millions at Risk of Identity Theft

Oregon’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) system has been hacked, putting millions of people at risk for identity theft. Oregon DMV confirmed Thursday that the agency was hacked two weeks ago. An estimated 3.5 million driver’s licenses and identification card files were compromised. DMV spokesperson Michelle Godfrey said the breach had extended to about 90 percent…


Government Overreached in Identity Theft Case, Supreme Court Rules Unanimously

The Supreme Court limited the reach of the federal Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act, unanimously rebuffing the Biden administration’s efforts to prosecute a man already convicted of Medicaid fraud with a separate charge of aggravated identity theft arising out of the same fraud case. The 9–0 opinion (pdf) in Dubin v. United States (court file 22-10)…


How to Reduce the Risk of Fraudsters Accessing Your Business and Personal Bank Accounts

By John Kyle In 2021, Americans lost approximately $5.8 billion from identity theft. There were 2.8 million consumer identity theft incidents reported, which means there could have been much more. Of that, $2.3 billion were from imposter scams, and $392 million were from consumer online shopping. For businesses, 47 percent of all businesses had one…


Bring Title Insurers Under Anti-Money Laundering Rules, Former Executive Says

Title insurers need to be brought under anti-money laundering rules to fight against scam artists who impersonate homeowners to sell or mortgage their properties, a former insurance executive says. Tim Hyde, who spent years in the title insurance business in Ontario, said dozens of cases involving impersonators in Ontario and B.C. showed the need for…


Supreme Court Not Receptive to Biden DOJ’s Arguments About Reach of Identity Theft Law

The Supreme Court seemed unreceptive to the Biden administration’s arguments on Feb. 27 that a Texas man convicted of Medicaid fraud should also be convicted of aggravated identity theft arising out of the same transaction because a form he filed contained a patient’s name. Several justices expressed concern that the government wants to interpret the…


The Fastest-Growing Crime in America

Commentary The United States is awash in crime. Rather staggeringly, as I have shown elsewhere, 11 of the world’s 50 most dangerous cities are now in the United States. Of all the various crimes plaguing the country, identity theft is the fastest-growing form of criminal activity. In 2021, according to a recent report by Javelin Strategy and…


Eight Ways to Prevent Online Identity Theft

Living a private online life isn’t always easy, but it is necessary. Unfortunately, with data breaches and online tracking, your private financial and personal information are in jeopardy. But there are ways to protect your online identity. Most methods are not difficult. The number-one way to secure your privacy is to be vigilant. Here are…


Percentage of Americans Who Say Local Crime Is Up Hits 50-Year-High

The percentage of Americans who think local crime is getting worse hit the highest level in five decades, according to a Gallup poll released on Oct. 28. A record 56 percent of respondents said they believe there is more crime locally now that there was a year ago. Nearly four in five (78 percent) said…


Hawaii Couple Charged With Stealing IDs of Dead Texas Children

HONOLULU—A U.S. defense contractor and his wife who lived for decades under the identities of two dead Texas children have been charged with identity theft and conspiring against the government, according to federal court records unsealed in Honolulu. Walter Glenn Primrose and Gwynn Darle Morrison, both in their 60s, who allegedly lived for decades under…