If an identity thief files a fraudulent tax return against your IRS account before you file your legitimate tax return, the identity thief wins, and you fall into a dark hole along with millions of other victims of Stolen Identity Refund Fraud.

Many have fallen victim to this rapidly growing crime: an identity thief, using nothing more than an individual’s name, social security number and date of birth, files a fraudulent tax return against that individual’s IRS account. Identity thieves defrauded the IRS out of $5.3 billion in 2013, and their victims were blocked from receiving their refunds.