Idenity Theft

[Donanita]

Has anyone had their EIN used in idenity theft before. Just got a call from collection company that was looking for xxxxx buisness with EIN number xxxx which was mine. Seems this business used my business name and EIN number to purchase a auto but was reprossesed and they owe about $9600. Took a while to convience the people that it was not my business but EIN number. The only way the business could have obtained my ein number was on the tax return I prepared for them in 2002. Guess the IRS will start having pin numbers that can be put on a return instead of the EIN number. I think the person that call was still a little unsure that I did not owe the $9600.They suggested I may need to file a police report, Just wondering what next?

[veritas]

Yes,

Someone tried to get a cell phone using our fed id#. Fortunately the cell comapny called to verify the new phone.

[S T]

PTIN and EIN

As copied below, you can use a PTIN but it can not replace the EIN

Apply for a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) only if you are a paid tax return preparer and you do not want to disclose your Social Security Number (SSN) on returns you prepare. If you use a PTIN, you will meet the requirement under IRC section 6109(a)(4) of furnishing your identifying number on returns you prepare. The PTIN cannot be used in place of the Employer Identification Number (EIN) of the tax preparation firm.

So now as paid preparer's we need to lobby for a PTEIN for the the firm!!

Always worries me due to the loan verification requests and verifying data on tax returns as well as all of the identity theft!

Probably just lost a client or two this year due to that process, as I refused to verify that they had been self employed! But I have heard of situations where some how (not mine) it has been done!

The age of internet, scanners, altering documents, etc.

Sandy

[BOB W]

Actually the error.....

.... is with the finance company. They did not verify who was purchasing the auto. What about a copy of the filing rec'pt from the state DOS, Corporate seal, and many other ways to verify the identity, not to mention doing a simple corporate name search and asking for the IRS followup letter from the SS4. They did none of this.

I was traveling through Roanoke Va and lost my wallet at a Pizza Hut. Several months later I get a call from Capital One asking why I have not paid my credit card bill. Of course I said what bill. They wanted to know how long ago I moved from Roanoke VA. So on and so on. I simply told them I have always lived in NY and that they failed to do a complete application check and the application was a fraud. I finished up with, " Don't call me again for your error". They did call me again to fill out some paperwork denying that I made the application and that I lost my wallet in Roanoke Va, the applicant's address.

This issue appears on my credit report but it is shown as "idenity theft" and I have had no problem with getting credit.

[S T]

Similiar Situation

About 9 months ago I went online to my accounts and saw a $5000 transaction. Fortunately for me we have bank accounts and credit card accounts at one particular bank. It was also a transition period where one of the credit card accounts was sending out new renewal cards.

Phoned the bank, and they said "oh" you weren't in Las Vegas right, know I don't think so, you can check back as far as you want and you won't see a Las Vegas Transaction. The $5,000 transaction was a "cash advance" from a Casino, then there was a trail of hotels and gas receipts. So very easy for us to prove it was a "stolen credit card". Advised them that the "new card" never arrived.

through the course of several months of filing "fraud documents" found out that the bank probably had a problem where the "new cards" were issued and sent from. So far so good, not on the credit report, but it is a pain to deal with.

I make sure that I monitor and match receipts to all credit card statements, whether actual purchase with a physical receipt or internet receipt. Had a few minor amounts charged from Sears in New Jersey when I am in Calif, so the credit card companies have been very good about reversing those charges as well. But then I pay the statements each month and have some minor activity.

But it is disturbing with the EIN#, and I liken most of those to be with Loan processing! Who else is going to obtain our EIN#'s! For my small practice I have encountered some strange phone calls from loan brokers on clients. A colleague of mine also had their EIN# show up on loan verification that they never verified!

Sandy

[oceanlovin'ea]

Credit card theft

About 2 years ago, my daughter and son-in-law were living with us for about 6 months while their new house was being built. One day my daughter got an email from one of their credit card companies about excessive activity on the account. It was an account that they were trying to pay off and were making large payments on, but very few if any charges. She called the company to see what they meant. They emailed her because their phone number had been disconnected and wanted to check on large charges on the account.

The charges were in a Home Depot in North Carolina. We live in Florida. Actually there were two credit cards that had charges on them. The other one called her cell phone.
I wish I could remember what companies they were. But one company didn't approve the charge because it couldn't be verified. The other company let it go through. That company asked if either of them lost their card and was she sure that neither of them were in North Carolina because it was an in store purchase.

Apparently the theif had made a card, but the scanner didn't read it and so they just keyed in the card number.

Long story short, the charges were taken off and they were issued new account numbers. Because they were getting ready to move in their new house, they were making purchases on line for different things, like bedding, etc. My son in law went out and got a router the next day. He also put one on my computer so it won't happen to me.

Linda F

[Gretel]

I have all the protection on my computer and still, I am pretty sure, it's not "safe". I try to make as little purchases over the internet as possible.

One tip I got from someone is to use a credit card with a low credit limit for online purchases. It makes a lot of sense to me.