Reports of tax fraud affecting some U-M faculty and staff

Each year, some taxpayers attempt to file their federal and state income tax returns and discover that criminals have already filed fraudulent returns and claimed refunds in their names. The U-M Health System has received reports that a small number of faculty and staff have been the victims of tax fraud this year. These instances of tax fraud do not appear to be related in any way to university processes or to any provider. Tax fraud and identity theft plague our country in many ways.

There are many ways that Social Security numbers and other sensitive data can be acquired by criminals for use in tax fraud. In some cases, criminals may acquire the information a very long time before using it. In other cases, they purchase the information from other criminals.

If you have experienced tax fraud, please use the resources below:

• Alert the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit by calling (800) 908 – 4490 or online (Reporting Fraud and Abuse Within the IRS E-File Program) and complete the Identity Theft Affidavit.
• Alert the appropriate state tax organization. In Michigan, contact the Michigan Department of Treasury by calling (517) 636-4486, sending email to Treasury-ReportIDTheft@michigan.gov, or sending U.S. mail to Identify Theft Unit, Income Tax Division, P.O. Box 30477, Lansing, MI 48909.
• Place a freeze on your credit report file with any one of the three nationwide credit reporting agencies listed below. The alert will stay on your credit reports for 90 days, and can be renewed. This is a free service. You need to contact only one company. The company you contact is required to contact the other two.
• Equifax: (800) 525-6285
• Experian: (888) 397-3742
• TransUnion: (800) 680-7289
• File a report with your local police department.
• Notify the ITS User Advocate by sending email to ITS.User.Advocate@umich.edu