Each year, criminal actors target US persons and visa holders for Stolen Identity Refund Fraud (SIRF). SIRF is defined as the fraudulent acquisition and use of the Personally Identifiable Information (PII) of US persons or visa holders to file tax returns. The fraudulent tax returns are sent to bank accounts or pre-paid cards that are held under their control. SIRF is relatively easy to commit and extremely lucrative for criminal actors. While all U.S. taxpayers are susceptible to SIRF, over the past year, criminal actors have targeted specific portions of the population, including: temporary visa holders, the homeless, prisoners, the deceased, low-income individuals, children, senior citizens, and military personnel deployed overseas. This may be due to the perception by criminal actors that these individuals are less likely to be aware of or receive notification that their identity has been stolen.

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After criminal actors steal PII, they use corrupt tax preparation companies or online tax software to file fraudulent tax returns with the stolen identity information at the federal and state level. The only legitimate information needed to file a fraudulent tax return is a name and social security number. This information is obtained by criminal actors through a variety of techniques, including computer intrusions, the online purchase of stolen PII, the physical theft of data from individuals or third parties, the impersonation of government officials through both phishing and cold-calling techniques, the exploitation of PII obtained through one’s place of employment, the theft of electronic medical records, and searching multiple publicly available Web sites and social media. After the criminal actors electronically file fraudulent tax returns, they use pre-paid debit cards or bank accounts under their control to route fraudulent returns. The balances on the pre-paid cards and bank accounts are depleted shortly after the tax refund is issued.

Additionally, investigative information shows cyber criminals compromised legitimate online tax software accounts during the 2015 tax season. Cyber criminals modified victims’ online tax software account information, diverting tax refunds to bank accounts or pre-paid cards under their control.

Many victims of SIRF do not know they have been targeted until they try to file their legitimate tax return. Many also receive notifications in the mail that their returns are being audited or are under review before they have even filed their tax returns.

If you believe you are a victim of SIRF, contact your local FBI or IRS field office. You may consult www.identitytheft.gov which can help you report and recover from identity theft. Additional resources are available at https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Identity-Protection.

Tips to protect yourself:

• File tax returns as early as possible.

• Monitor your bank account statements regularly, as well and as your credit report at least once a year for any fraudulent activity.

• Report unauthorized transactions to your bank or credit card provider as soon as possible.

• Be cautious of telephone calls or e-mails that require you to provide your personal information, especially your birth date or social security number. If you are in doubt, do not provide the requested information.

• Do not open e-mail or attachments from unknown individuals. Additionally, do not click on links embedded in e-mails from unknown individuals.

• Never provide personal information of any sort via e-mail. Be aware, many e-mails requesting your personal information appear to be legitimate.

• If you use online tax services, ensure your bank account is accurately listed before and after you file your tax return.

• Ensure sensitive information is permanently removed from online tax software accounts that are no longer being used. Allowing online accounts to become dormant can be risky and make you more susceptible to tax fraud schemes.

• If you feel you are a victim, immediately contact the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit records.

• If you are a victim, file an Identity Theft Affidavit (IRS Form 14039). This form is available for download from www.identitytheft.gov.

A man wanted in connection with the fatal shooting at McDonald’s on Russel Cave Road has been apprehended in Detroit, Michigan.

On Tuesday, Devonte Martez Hobbs, 21, was arrested.

Investigators obtained an arrest warrant for him last week, charging him with Murder and Robbery 1st degree.

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Around 9:22 p.m. on January 12th, officers were called to the McDonald’s parking lot on Russell Cave in response to shots fired and a possible injury collision.

First responders located Timothy Brown Jr., 23. He suffered from multiple gunshot wounds and died.

Hobbs is lodged in the Wayne County, Michigan Jail. He will be extradited back to Lexington.

Two arrests were made shortly after police say the suspect slammed into a police cruiser. Now, Lexington Police say that one of the men is connected to another robbery

The robbery occurred Tuesday at a Marathon gas station on Newtown Pike. A suspect walked into the store, demanded cash and fled in a vehicle.

Police say 18-year-old Quantaveon Leavell was spotted at another gas station pumping gas into an SUV matching the description of the suspect vehicle from the previous robbery. When police tried to talk to him, they say he sped off, hitting a police cruiser in the process. A second person was also in the vehicle

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Police later found out that the car he was driving was reported stolen. They tracked him down a few hours later and finally arrested him. The passenger, identified as 20-year-old Isaiah L. Bell, was also apprehended and charged with receiving stolen property and fleeing & evading police. Through the course of the investigation, investigators determined Leavell was the driver and robbery suspect.

In addition to two robbery charges, Leavell is also charged with fleeing/evading police, leaving the scene of an accident and receiving stolen property.

He will be arraigned Wednesday in Lexington. Leavell is also charged in connection with the February 28 robbery of the Circle K gas station on Richmond Road. In that incident, the store clerk stated that two men, one armed with a handgun, demanded cash from the register. After taking the money, the men fled in an unknown direction.

A man who sexually abused a 9-year-old child will spend 16 years in prison without the possibility of parole.

Prosecutors working in District Attorney Charme Allen’s Child Abuse Unit say Rodney Dewayne Kitts, 44, pled guilty
to Aggravated Sexual Battery on Monday.

Assistant District Attorney Rachel Russell says at one time Kitts dated a family member of the victim. While spending the night with that family member, the victim awoke to Kitts sexually assaulting her on the couch.

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When the victim saw Kitts, she pretended to be asleep and rolled over. That’s when prosecutors say Kitts carried the victim to a bed.

Investigators say the victim was afraid that Kitts would hurt her, and that’s why she waited so long to come forward. Kitss was arrested in 2014.

“Those who molest children have no place in our society,” said DA Charme Allen. “Because of the bravery shown by this victim coming forward, this perpetrator will be locked up for a very long time.”