FBI Issues Identity Theft Warning Against Criminals Claiming Tax Refunds

Acquiring an IP PIN can help taxpayers prevent such incidents, the agency suggests.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) headquarters in Washington on Nov. 6, 2023.Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

The FBI issued an alert on April 2, warning Americans about criminals stealing the identities of taxpayers to file fake returns and claim refunds.

“The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) has received over 1,000 complaints about identity theft in connection with tax returns within the past year representing a 26 percent increase from the previous year,” the agency said in an April 2 statement.