FTC hosting free online events to mark Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week

The Federal Trade Commission is honoring Tax Identify Theft Awareness Week, Jan. 29-Feb. 2, by featuring a series of free events to help consumers and businesses reduce their chances of being victimized.

The FTC says tax identity theft is when a person uses someone else's Social Security number to either file a tax return and claim the victim's refund, or earn wages that are reported as the victim's income, leaving the victim with the tax bill.

The events in Eastern Standard Time include:

• Jan. 29 at 2 p.m.: A webinar for consumers on tax identity theft and IRS imposter scams, co-hosted by the FTC and the Identity Theft Resource Center.
• Jan. 30 at 2:30 p.m.: A webinar for older adults and other consumers on tax identity theft and IRS imposter scams, co-hosted by the FTC, the American Association of Retired Persons and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
• Jan. 31 at 11 a.m.: A Twitter chat for service members, veterans and their families, co-hosted by the FTC and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Join the conversation at #VeteranIDTheft.
• Feb.1 at 1 p.m.: A webinar for small businesses, Protecting Sensitive Business and Customer Data: Practical Identity Safety Practices for Your Business, co-hosted by the FTC and IRS.
• Feb.1 at 3 p.m.: A Twitter chat for consumers on protecting themselves from tax identity theft, co-hosted by the FTC and the Identity Theft Resource Center. Join the conversation at #IDTheftChat.

The ADA Center for Professional Success contains information on identity theft at Success.ADA.org.

The ADA Catalog markets a free-for-members resource, "Protecting Yourself From Identity Theft," at ebusiness.ADA.org.