Cathedral City tax preparer hacked compromising 400 tax payer’s returns

Tax delays could be the least of the problems after identity theft hackers filed fraudulent tax returns after accessing one Valley business’ database.

“Our family was depending on that money to do something, to go out and pay the bills and catch up but now we have to wait,” victim Javier Solis said.

More than 400 people’s tax returns were effected after hackers got into L and L’s Accounting and Tax software database.

“I noticed some tax returns were electronically accepted without any information on the computer, in my computer network. I called the IRS and I asked them why am i getting some weird acknowledgements? Why are these people accepted and i haven’t even seen them this year,” said Mario Lopez with L and L Accounting and Tax.

Lopez said he sent out letters to clients who were effected and purchased fraud insurance for each one.
He said the software was secure but still doesn’t know how hackers got in.

“We’ve always had security now we have more security. But it looks like they can send you a virus in an email and we get a lot of emails and you know somebody in my office might have opened something they shouldn’t have and maybe that gave them a portal to access,” Lopez said.

One victim said he filed early to get his money as soon as possible. But his tax return was compromised and the only way to get his check now is to confirm his identity in person at an IRS office.

“I gave them a call to make an appointment. It’s not right away, the same day, or the next day we have to wait a whole month just to get in there,” Solis said.

The hack left many victims including Lopez and his business frustrated.

I hope they stop these criminals from where ever they are at and i just feel bad that it happened to our customers because they trust us and they believe our information is safe. I thought it was safe but it doesn’t seem to be safe enough,” Lopez said

Lopez said victims who have not filed yet, will have to send their tax returns by mail with an identity theft affidavit to the IRS. The affidavit will give tax payer’s a new pin to use each year when filing to protect their tax returns.

For more information on fraudulent tax returns click here.