In March 2024, Courtney CPA detected potential fraud related to tax returns filed by one of its CPAs. The incident raised concerns that personal client information, including names, Social Security numbers, and bank account details, might have been exposed to unauthorized third parties. Upon discovering the issue, the company took immediate action, involving the IRS to address any fraudulently filed tax returns. They also enrolled in the IRS’s secure filing program to enhance protection against future incidents of tax fraud.
Following the discovery, Courtney CPA contacted the police and hired a reputable computer forensics firm to investigate the breach. Initial investigations did not uncover any malicious activity on Courtney CPA’s internal systems or its third-party cloud storage. However, in July 2024, further investigations into a third-party storage system revealed suspicious activity, indicating that unauthorized access may have occurred. Despite this, the investigation could not confirm the extent of the breach or identify any specific data compromise.
As a precaution, Courtney CPA has offered free credit monitoring services to all affected clients. The firm has taken proactive steps to safeguard client data by migrating all sensitive information away from the potentially compromised third-party storage system. They are continuing to work closely with clients to rectify any fraudulent tax filings that may have resulted from the breach.
In the meantime, Courtney CPA is urging any clients who suspect fraudulent activity with their tax returns to contact the firm for assistance. While the full scope of the breach remains unclear, the firm remains committed to ensuring the security of client information and preventing any further issues related to the incident.
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