To help ensure public safety and welfare, Consumer Protection has scheduled several events from January 29 - February 2 in recognition of Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week.

The week is dedicated to educating the public about how to protect themselves from tax-related crimes. Tax identity theft occurs when an individual uses stolen personal information such as a Social Security number, to file a fraudulent tax return and obtain a refund.

You can see a list of these events at http://www.pinellascounty.org/consumer/pdf/tax_identity_theft_week_flyer.pdf

A Consumer Protection investigator will be available to answer questions and provide free resources on identity theft and repair.

Proactive steps to lessen the chance of becoming a victim include:

• Filing tax returns early in the tax season
• Using a secure internet connection to file electronically
• Mailing tax returns directly from the post office
• Shredding any extra copies of tax documents
• Responding to mail from the IRS as soon as possible
• Remembering that the IRS will not contact taxpayers by email, text or social media
• Only giving out Social Security numbers or Medicare numbers when absolutely necessary.
• Checking credit reports at least once a year free of charge at www.annualcreditreport.com.

The Federal Trade Commission is holding a number of events in recognition of the week as well, including webinars and Twitter chats. For more information, visit https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0029-tax-identity-theft-awareness-week.

Those who believe they are victims of tax identity theft should contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at (800) 908-4490. For more information about identity theft, contact Pinellas County Consumer Protection at (727) 464-6200 or visit www.pinellascounty.org/consumer.