A Financial Professional Should Be Smarter Than The Identity Thieves Who Want Money
San Diego, CA (PRWEB) September 17, 2015 -- Although tax season is once a year, income tax identity theft is a year-round major issue with the General Accounting Office (GAO) of the Federal government because annual losses due to tax identity theft total approximately $6 billion annually.
Income tax identity theft occurs when name and Social Security number are obtained by a thief who files a fraudulent return in the victim’s name with a counterfeit W-2 designed to generate a large refund from the IRS.
Financial professionals in their capacity as advisors to their clients have a responsibility to be aware of the most up-to-date methods used by identity thieves in order to protect their clients and to advise them appropriately. The non-profit Institute of Consumer Financial Education offers a comprehensive course of study leading to the designation of Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist - CITRMS ® XV.
ABOUT THE ICFE
The Institute of Consumer Financial Education (ICFE) was founded as a non-profit organization in 1982 to help consumer improve spending habits, increase savings and use credit more wisely. Working in cooperation with government and business, the ICFE offers several certification programs with continuing education Units and Professional Development Units including Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist Program and the Certified Consumer “Debt Collection Compliance Specialist®. Paul S. Richard is the ICFE President and Executive Director. To learn more about ICFE visit their websites at http://www.financial-education-icfe.org and http://www.studentdebthelp.org.
Katherine Fleischman, Blinkpr, +1 (305) 490-5911, [email protected]
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