Six at U-M affected in tax-return fraud case; protection tips offered

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The U-M Health System Compliance Office recently was made aware of reports of fraudulent tax return filings involving six U-M employees.

These tax filings went unknown until an employee received IRS notice that a tax return was already filed in his or her name. The source of this identity theft is not known.

While internal investigations revealed no indication that U-M is the source of information used in the fraudulent tax return filings, this type of fraud is occurring nationwide.

Persons who are a victim of this form of identity theft should take the following steps immediately:

• Alert the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit by calling 800-908-4490 or through the IRS website, and complete the Identity Theft Affidavit.

• Alert the Michigan Department of Treasury by calling 517-636-4486 or by email at Treasury-ReportIDTheft@michigan.gov, or by mail at: Identify Theft Unit, Income Tax Division, P.O. Box 30477, Lansing, MI, 48909.

•  Freeze credit report files with all three credit bureaus to prevent accounts being opened in your name. Those credit bureaus and their phone numbers are: Equifax, 800-525-6285; Experian, 888-397-3742; and TransUnion, 800-680-7289.

• File a report with the local police department.

• Email the UMHS Compliance office at compliance-group@med.umich.edu; or if outside UMHS, contact the U-M Compliance Resource Center at compliancecoordinator@umich.edu.

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