Hackers Stole Info of 100,000 Taxpayers From Internal Revenue Services

The US Internal Revenue Services (IRS) has admitted its website was hacked by what appears to be organized crime syndicates to get information on more than 100,000 US taxpayers, according to local media.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The exposed data included old tax returns and material on the agency’s website, in what appears to be “organized crime syndicates,” IRS Commissioner John Koskinen was quoted as saying by The Hill.

The Internal Revenue Service Headquarters (IRS) building Washington

© AP Photo / J. David Ake

“The Internal Revenue Service announced Tuesday that hackers gained access to old tax returns for over 100,000 taxpayers,” The Hill reported.

Hackers used the IRS web service “My Transcript” to file fraudulent tax returns and claim illegitimate funds, Koskinen added.

The agency has shut down the web service and announced providing free credit monitoring services for the affected 104,000 taxpayers.

The Internal Revenue Service is the US government agency responsible for tax collection and tax law enforcement, according to its web site.