Arizona Department of Revenue Busts 13 Tax Fraud Schemes

The Arizona Department of Revenue has put a stop to 13 tax fraud schemes so far this year, the department announced Monday in a news release. All told, some $10 million worth of tax fraud has been identified, up some 50 percent from this time last year.

The department highlighted two schemes in its release. The first included fraudsters using the identities of young people requesting refunds from $48 to $5,000.

The second called on the identities of retired or dead taxpayers to submit fake 1099-R forms requesting money from pensions, annuities or retirement and profit-sharing plans. The fraudsters filed refund claims between $109 and $8,999, ADOR said.

ADOR said since 2015 it has put a stop to around $130 million in tax fraud.

Here's how to avoid being a victim of tax fraud, according to ADOR:

• Do not carry paperwork bearing your social security number
• Do not give out your social security number unless it is required for a legitimate reason
• Keep personal identifying information in a secure place
• Be careful when discarding personal or confidential information
• Protect personal devices with anti-virus software
• Always use strong passwords, and do not reuse passwords across different accounts
• Check your credit report annually
• Monitor earnings via your statement from the Social Security Administration
• Never share personal information through email, social media or text messaging

Arizona residents who have been a victim of tax fraud can call the Identity Theft Call Center at (602) 716-6300, toll-free 1-800-352-4090, or learn more online.