Green Thumb Industries has become aware of a series of tax scams that may involve our information being used to create false W-2, W-3, or 1099 forms to submit fraudulent tax returns in victims’ names.
These scams often take advantage of existing data breaches, where the information needed to submit a tax return has been obtained such as your full name and address, birth date, and social security number.
If you have never been an employee of Green Thumb Industries and have received a W-2, W-3, or 1099 form, you may be a victim of identity theft.
If you are a former employee and believe you received an incorrect or fraudulent W-2, W-3, or 1099 form, please contact us for assistance.
Here are a few tips and things you can take to protect yourself if you received a fraudulent tax form or were the victim of Identity Theft:
1. Notify the IRS that you have been a victim of Identity Theft. To start, visit the Taxpayer guide to identity theft | Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov)
2. Report your Identity Theft to the Federal Government: https://www.identitytheft.gov.
3. Set an Identity Protection (IP) PIN if you have not yet done so. An IP PIN is a 5-digit code that must be submitted with your tax return each year for acceptance. You can set an IP PIN at no charge by visiting: https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/get-an-identity-protection-pin
4. Check Your Credit Report. Did you know that you are entitled to one free credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus every 12 months? If someone unauthorized has your personal identifying information and is attempting to use it to gain access to your credit and/or finances, they may not use it immediately or may try to continue to use it over time. You should make a long-term plan so that you are alerted to any unauthorized activity as soon as possible, and regularly monitor your credit report.
5. If you are not planning on applying for credit in the near future, request a credit report freeze to help prevent unauthorized accounts from being made in your name: How To Freeze Your Credit – Forbes Advisor
6. The IRS primarily operates using US Mail. They will not unexpectedly email you with a form or requesting more information, nor will they ever call or email you with immediate payment demands. When in doubt, visit www.irs.gov or a local IRS office to get assistance.
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- An IRS envelope will include the IRS logo, and will have your partial tax ID number and either a notice number (CP) or letter number (LTR). Your letter will also include your rights as a taxpayer (something a scammer is unlikely to include).
- A real IRS letter will also never demand immediate payment or otherwise pressure you into giving out your personal information. If you are asked to pay back taxes, you will always be given steps to appeal your payment first. You will never be asked to make payments directly to the “IRS”—instead, payments will always be made to the Treasury department.
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7. Stay Aware! If you receive a fraudulent tax document, scammers may continue to target you through other means. So, stay vigilant about anything unexpected that it could be malicious.
8. Contact Your Banks and Credit Card Companies. Your banking institutions can help look for fraudulent activity and determine if any additional security protections should be placed on your account.
