Statewide Iowa — A vote is expected today (Wednesday, April 18th) in the U.S. House of Representatives on a bill, drafted by an Iowa Congressman, that seeks to crack down on identity thieves and help victims of such fraud.
The Justice for Victims of IRS Scams and Identity Theft Act would require the Attorney General and Treasury Secretary to submit reports to Congress detailing how they have prosecuted identity theft crimes.
According to Iowa Congressman David Young, Americans lose billions of dollars to con artists, and many Iowans worry about getting a call from their bank or credit card company explaining their information has been stolen.
A 2016 report indicated Americans submit up to 14-thousand complaints about IRS impersonation scams every week. Several KIWA listening area residents have reported being contacted by someone impersonating an IRS Agent in recent weeks.
These scams are indiscriminate and can impact any person at any time. Young suggested that the Department of Justice should suggest “what can be done to deter criminals and prevent identity theft from happening.”
