7 On Your Side Recovers Stolen Treasury Checks for Families

Stolen Tax Refunds and Annuity Checks

• 💡 A Howard Beach couple waited over a year for a reissue of their stolen tax refund and a large annuity check, which was supposed to be direct deposited.
• 📌 Nancy Daly has been searching for her late father's refund check of $7,300, issued after his passing in 2019.
• ⚠️ Both individuals are victims of stolen checks, with the process of getting their money back proving to be lengthy and frustrating.

IRS Agent Reassignments and Fraudulent Cashing

• 🔍 The IRS process involved filing forms in July for a May mailing, with agents reassigned multiple times between November and December.
• 💬 The IRS stated checks were sent, but the couple questioned how their funds were rerouted to a check without their knowledge.
• 📈 Seven on Your Side receives daily complaints from viewers about stolen tax refunds.

Treasury Data on Stolen Checks

• 📊 While stolen checks are down this year compared to last, the US reported 73,000 stolen, lost, or damaged checks as of April 2024, averaging 21,000 per month.
• 💰 The total amount in checks reissued due to fraud over the last two years is $709 million in 2023 and $227 million so far in 2024.
• ❓ Taxpayers questioned why the government continued to reissue checks that had already been cashed fraudulently.

Transition to Direct Deposit

• ✅ The federal government is moving to phase out paper checks, with an executive order directing the Treasury to cease issuing federal disbursements in paper checks, except for those without banking access.
• 🏦 This executive order is set to take effect this fall, encouraging everyone to opt for direct deposit until then.
• 👏 Nina Pineda and the 7 On Your Side team successfully helped viewers recover their missing refunds.