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Scammers try to steal family's $10K tax refund by filing early online

Scammers filed a federal tax return to steal a local family's $10,000 tax refund by hacking into their H&R Block online account. FULL STORY: https://abc7.ws/49o69Oa

ABC 7 Chicago

7 days ago

a local family was counting on that federal tax refund to pay for household expenses and now they're waiting on answers from the IRS and the tax prepare all because of a fake tax filing good job Edward and Jill Harris have a full house in Juliet I just never saw something like this coming they're counting on their federal tax return but scammers filed in their name IRS documentation shows the refund status results of a $10,000 expected refund $10,000 687 but you didn't file it no correct and you
saw this what' you think I uh I got to admit I was highly upset they say the scammers filed early and online somehow getting into their H&R Block online account which had the family's tax information stored from last year we made an appointment to go get our taxes done at the local H&R Block um when we did that uh we ended up getting a call back a few days later saying hey why' you guys schedule an appointment when your taxes have already been filed they filed a police report and showed us the
fake tax filing they obtained from H&R Block it shows that refund and banking account information where they don't have an account the filing also has all of the Harris's personal information including their children's Social Security numbers before the scam they say they received these alerts that someone was trying to access their H&R Block account online they say they immediately called the tax preparers and they assured us that they had resolved it well obviously they didn't H&R Block tells
the IT team this was not a problem with H&R Block or its software but rather a situation with their identity being stolen from somewhere else on the phone a spokesperson said someone had enough of the couple's personal information to access the account the tax preparer added that we take identity protection very seriously and it's also looking into the family's questions about those security alerts the company says it's working with the family to help recover the refund from the IRS and it will
offer the family ID Theft Protection Services the IRS told the family to mail a new paper tax return which they did now they're waiting I have three-year-old Twins and my daughter has special needs um I have a seven-year-old who has a skin condition that requires treatment that has to be paid out of pocket so on a medical aspect of it I was really counting on that money the IRS says it can't comment on the case but if this happens to you you should fill out an identity theft form with the IRS ex
perts also say to file electronically and file early to help avoid tax scams Jason nolles ABC7 Eyewitness News watch Breaking News on YouTube subscribe to ABC7 Chicago Eyewitness News

Comments

@paigehicks2453

I'm in southern Michigan and am currently dealing with the exact same thing with HR Block!

@michellecisco533

Pay for the H&R Block shield. Therefore, if anything happens, H&R Block Hass to pay that back.

@lbennaugh

This is getting out of hand. H&R Block, obviously, had a breach and don't want the public knowing.

@karenharvey1667

Same thing happened to us. IRS didn't believe us. We received a check before we even filed for taxes. We turned it in to Liberty tax. We still haven't gotten anything back. Paperwork after paperwork still nothing. Now we have an advocate working on our case. This had been ongoing since 2020.

@truthserum4886

This is awful. Scammers are filth.

@ellieeveritt

I hate how much scamming happens with government accounts and money. Its like these big companies wait for something bad to happen AND THEN try to scramble to fix it instead of anticipating the worst. These issues should be constantly being upgraded and monitored as scammers keep getting more and more clever and tech savvy!! Scammers seem to be 2 steps ahead 🙄

@DirtCheapFU

When your tax and social security information is the topic of discussion. Guard your information. Only provide your information with trusted sources who provide insurance and reassurance.

@user-dj6zd4xz9w

No H&R should be responsible for it!!!!!

@Gooddaysalways

Filed with Turbo Tax this year and apparently IRS is sending a letter to verify identity. Been waiting about 4 weeks now.

@marthamartin23

I really hope this family gets this resolved quickly and this animáis of scammers do not get this money.

@Scott_T_

That's crazy! Why would you give the government a free $10K loan throughout the year?!?!?? I personally owe every year and use MY money throughout the year.

@JayTee2985

I hope the family freezes their credit profiles and ask for social security agency to change their kids social security numbers. H&R Block is 100% responsible for this mess. My hunch is one of their employees obtained the family’s info and sold it to scammers.

@itscool31

I've been through that. I highly recommend getting a pin number from the IRS.

@MrBobochow

Stay away from H & R Block ?

@jeanpierre9539

People make me sick! 😒

@preciousowusu7743

Sounds very suspect.

@garterhead3831

It’s always somebody else’s fault when a company fucks up

@brianchamberlain6245

This is why you use a protective pin only issued by the irs

@deborahbaker4770

Someone has to know what they would be getting

@littlebrit

Stealing children's info would be impossible. Never outsource software development. Lesson learned!