States: Spike in Tax Fraud Against Doctors

[InfoSec News <alerts () infosecnews org>]

http://krebsonsecurity.com/2014/04/states-spike-in-tax-fraud-against-doctors/

By Brian Krebs
Krebs on Security
April 22, 2014

An unusual number of physicians in several U.S. states are just finding 
out that they’ve been victimized by tax return fraud this year, 
KrebsOnSecurity has learned. An apparent spike in tax fraud cases against 
medical professionals is fueling speculation that the crimes may have been 
prompted by a data breach at some type of national organization that 
certifies or provides credentials for physicians.

Scott Colby, executive vice president of the New Hampshire Medical 
Society, said he started hearing from physicians in his state about a week 
ago, when doctors who were just filing their tax returns began receiving 
notices from the Internal Revenue Service that someone had already filed 
their taxes and claimed a large refund.

So far, Colby has heard from 111 doctors, physician assistants and nurse 
practitioners in New Hampshire who have been victims of tax fraud this 
year.

“I’ve been here four years and this is the first time this issue has come 
across my desk,” Colby said.

[...]

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