IRS Criminal Investigation Oakland Field Office

A federal jury delivered a guilty verdict to Rowland Marcus Andrade for money laundering and wire fraud related to an investment scheme of a cryptocurrency called AML Bitcoin. Andrade made false representations about AML Bitcoin to procure investments and then used ill-gotten gains to purchase property and luxury automobiles. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Click the image below to read more about this #IRSCI and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) case. #FollowTheMoney #WhatWeDoCounts?

While not always indicative of #fraud, it could be. IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) has investigated several cases where a return preparer used other employees’ PTINs to file fraudulent tax returns for clients so they would receive large refunds or reduced taxes, like this?case from the IRS-CI Denver Field Office: https://lnkd.in/erWsPbvB When choosing a tax return preparer, you should verify the preparer has a PTIN and ensure it matches the preparer signing your tax return. IRS has an?RPO Preparer Directory?(https://lnkd.in/e_-3gmv) where PTIN information can be confirmed. You should also review the preparer’s other credentials. Come back next Friday for #FraudOrNot? and learn how to protect yourself this tax season.

You just moved to a new city, and you’re looking for a new tax return preparer. Your coworkers raved about a particular one that they’ve used for years. In doing your own research, you visit the IRS’ directory of tax return preparers to verify that the preparer has a PTIN (Preparer Tax Identification Number). This particular preparer isn’t listed, but there’s a PTIN listed in an online IRS directory associated with another person’s name at the same tax business. Is this #FraudorNot? Respond “Fraud” or “Not” in the comments below and check back this afternoon to learn more.

Howard Solomon, of Oakland, was charged with mail fraud and tax evasion in connection with an alleged scheme to defraud?East Oakland Boxing Association, a non-profit organization supporting East Oakland children. Click the image below to read more. #IRSCI #WhatWeDoCounts #FollowTheMoney

This text message is?#Fraud. The IRS does not contact taxpayers via unsolicited text messages. While economic impact payments are legitimate tax credits that many U.S. taxpayers should have received, this text message is part of a phishing scam. The fraudster behind this text is trying to steal your personal information by claiming to be the IRS and encouraging you to click a link and enter personal details about yourself. ? Additionally, the IRS automatically sent Economic Income Payments to eligible U.S. taxpayers who didn’t receive them, so there’s no need to file an amended return. U.S. taxpayers should have received outstanding Economic Income Payments by late January 2025. Come back next Friday for?#FraudOrNot??and learn how to protect yourself this tax season.

Tax season is here. Over the next several weeks, every Friday we are going to provide a tax filing scenario and ask you to comment whether the situation depicted is #FraudOrNot. Below is the first of the series. You worked with an online tax return preparer to submit your tax return. Two hours later, you receive a text message claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service, offering you $1,400 in Economic Impact Payments. You were confident that you already claimed all the credits and deductions you qualified for on your return. You’ve heard a lot about Economic Impact Payments on television, and an additional $1,400 would be great! Is this #FraudOrNot? Respond “Fraud” or “Not” in the comments below and check back this afternoon to learn more.

“Mr. Stone misused his businesses to assist others to take advantage of various COVID-19 programs, preventing those funds from going to people who desperately need them,” said Christopher J. Altemus Jr., special agent in charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation’s Dallas Field Office. The women and men of IRS Criminal Investigation will continue to bring people to justice who blatantly disregard their civic duty and willfully break the law. Mr. Stone’s greed and misdeeds potentially led to the closure of businesses during the COVID-19 crisis because those funds were no longer available.”

Awesome case IRS Criminal Investigation Tampa Field Office!

If convicted, Akash Singh faces a sentence of 30 years in prison for multiple bank fraud and money laundering counts related to a scheme designed to steal money intended to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. #IRCI #WhatWeDoCounts #FollowTheMoney #OAKFO

Crime-fighting veteran Arlette Lee, a Special Agent with IRS Criminal Investigation, was sure Amanda Riley was running a scam by pretending to have cancer. Here’s how the case unfolded. https://trib.al/zPbme9g