Law enforcement urges individuals to be on guard for identity theft this time of year

We are in the middle of tax season, and  law enforcement is reminding everyone to carefully guard your identity so you don’t become a victim.

Identity thieves are looking for every opportunity to steal your identity and take your money.

Last week, a 53-year-old woman from Peters Township in Franklin County went to police saying she was a victim. Somehow, someone got her information including her social security number and e-filed a 2012 tax return.

The woman found out when she tried to file her taxes and was denied, because it was already done. She did contact the IRS.

Robert Miller is a tax preparer with Liberty Tax Services in Lemoyne. He recommends these steps to protect yourself.

• Don't carry your Social Security Card with you
• Protect your financial information
• Check your credit report every 12 months
• Protect your personal computers with firewalls, anit-spam and virus software
• Also regularly change your account passwords and finally never give personal information over the phone, mail or web unless you initiated the contact

Miller says these are the keys to filing.  “When it comes to filing taxes and your financial status, your identity, social security number, that’s how you’re going to be recognized so to protect that is of the utmost importance.”