Using Patient IDs for Tax Fraud
Indictment Alleges ID Thefts at Ala. HospitalAn Alabama woman has been indicted in an ID theft case for allegedly stealing personal information about more than 800 patients at an Alabama hospital and then selling the information for use in filing fraudulent tax returns.
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Angeline Austin of Troy, Ala., allegedly stole names, Social Security numbers and dates of birth of patients at Troy Hospital (also known as Troy Regional Medical Center), according to a statement from U.S. Attorney George L. Beck Jr.
Austin was employed by Southern Records Management Inc., and was assigned to work at Troy Hospital, according to the statement. She allegedly stole the information and then sold it to another person who used it to prepare fraudulent tax returns that were filed with the Internal Revenue Service. According to the indictment, Austin received $1,500 for every 100 names she sold.
Austin and others then received fraudulent tax refunds on prepaid debit cards. "The conspirators then used [ATMs] to retrieve the refunds from the prepaid debit cards," the statement says.
Austin faces 22 charges, including conspiring with others to defraud the U.S. government and a variety of fraud charges.