The IRS gave over 6 billion dollars to 'identity' thieves in 2011. With only a social security number, it was open season on the US tax payer. No other verification was required. Nothing. Not even the name had to match. One crook in Michigan filed 3 thousand tax returns for over 3 million dollars in refunds, all to the same address.
The IRS response to this gross negligence? Blame the victim. " I'm sorry, you've had your identity stolen. You should really be more careful with your personal information. Maybe buy a shredder."
Really? A social security number? Up until a couple of years ago, that number was EVERYWHERE. On driver's licensees, printed on personal, checks, heath records, job applications, utility bills. If you learned nothing else in college, you learned your damn social security number. Hell, the state of Wisconsin last year published them on a website and printed them on the outside of envelops!
Victims have to mail in a copy of form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit along with a copy of your drivers license and social security card. It takes 90 days for the fraud department to reply. Please don't bother us until then. Mail a copy of my social security card!? And if that gets lost in the mail? Excuse me while I grind up my blood pressure meds and snort that shit before my head explodes.
This did not have to happen!
The IRS did not take even the simplest steps to verify identity. The IRS has available the gold-standard in fraud prevention, 2-factor authentication, and decided not to use it. They can compare your tax return to your W-2/1099 submitted by your employer! "But our computers are old and slow and it would take too long". Bullshit. They can build a giant data center in Utah to capture every text, email, and phone call but they can't compare my tax return to my W-2? Can't rent a couple google server-farm-in-a-containers for a couple months? You have to jump through more hoops to rent a DVD.
I'm sure there are professional programmers at the IRS that protested this stupidity. They were overruled, this was management decision. There needs to be a investigation to identify who was responsible and hold them accountable.
Douglas Shulman crashed 2 space shuttles. He sank an aircraft carrier. He gave one third of the NASA budget to criminals and terrorists. He gave away the entire interest increase on the Stafford student loans. How does he still have a job? Why is he not in jail?
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