Have you filed your taxes yet? Tax day is just a few days away. And the state’s consumer protection unit is warning it’s seeing an increase in a new type of tax time scam – tax-related identity theft. That’s where thieves use your personal information to file for a tax refund with the IRS before you get a chance to submit your taxes.
Ed Sniffen is an Senior Assistant Attorney General with the state’s consumer protection unit. He says the unit first started hearing reports of tax related identity theft in 2012.
Anne Hillman is the healthy communities editor at Alaska Public Media and a host of Hometown, Alaska. Reach her atahillman@alaskapublic.org. Read more about Annehere.