The Oakland County Sheriff’s Department documented a case of identity fraud and theft on Sept. 8, after a 42-year-old DeGoff Court man said he was told by the Internal Revenue Service that he owes $28,000 in back taxes.
According to an OCSD report, the man had recently contacted the IRS to find out why he hadn’t received a refund check yet. He said an IRS representative told him that he had not gotten a check yet because he owed $28,000 in back taxes and had not filed a return in three years. The man said this was impossible and that he had proof to show otherwise.
The man contacted a friend who ran a credit check on him, which revealed several outstanding debts including unpaid credit cards and a defaulted auto loan.
It also revealed the name of a Battle Creek man who was using his social security number. The man said he had no credit cards and had not obtained an auto loan in at least four years, and that he never received a collection notice from any merchant.