Young, Sinema React to Arrest of Criminals Involved in Large-Scale IRS Impersonation Scam

Statement

Iowa Congressman David Young and Arizona Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema, founders of the Bipartisan Congressional Task Force to Combat Identity Theft and Fraud, released the following statements after news of the U.S. Justice Department's (DOJ) arrest and indictment of individuals involved in a sophisticated Internal Revenue Service (IRS) impersonation scam which has targeted American taxpayers since 2013.

This particular IRS impersonation scam involved five call centers in India targeting Americans with phony, threatening calls from the IRS and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS); predominantly domestic money laundering through prepaid debit cards and wire transfers; and a network of conspirators in both the United States and India.

"This complex and large-scale IRS impersonation scam has victimized families across the country, and I appreciate the work of our federal investigators and law enforcement, as well as the coordination of the Indian government, to investigate this scheme," Congressman Young said. "It is my hope the criminals charged face swift justice and are held accountable for these awful crimes. Today's news is also an important reminder that identity theft and fraud are complex and ever evolving crimes which stand to target Americans from anywhere in the world. It is crucial folks take the time to remain informed and aware of existing threats and report instances of scams and fraud to federal officials or local law enforcement."

"This is welcome news for the families in Arizona and across the country victimized by this damaging IRS impersonation scam," said Congresswoman Sinema. "Identity theft and financial fraud are complex and constantly-evolving crimes that devastate Arizona and American families. We will continue working across the aisle to shed light on the existing threats and find solutions to protect Americans' financial security."

The DOJ has also encouraged any individual who suspects they are a victim of an IRS impersonation scam to report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). Visit the TIGTA scam report form here: https://www.treasury.gov/tigta/contact_report_scam.shtml

For information on existing scams and fraud, best practices to stay protected, or to report a scam or personal story about fraud, visit the website of the Bipartisan Congressional Task Force to Combat Identity Theft and Fraud at IDTaskForce-Young.House.Gov.

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