Brookfield Investors recently received a notification from the IRS regarding a data exposure incident linked to former contractor Charles Littlejohn, who was sentenced to five years in prison for stealing tax information from high-profile investors. The IRS has begun sending notification letters to potentially affected parties in compliance with the Internal Revenue Code. The IRS notice indicates that Mr. Littlejohn was charged with unauthorized access and disclosure of tax return information between 2018 and 2020, raising concerns about the sensitive data of investors.
While the IRS notice did not specify whether any investor information had been disclosed, Brookfield Investors is taking precautionary measures to inform their clients. The company files annual partnership tax returns, which include K-1 copies containing critical personal information such as names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and Employer Identification numbers. As a result, Brookfield Investors is alerting its investors that their personally identifiable information might have been compromised during the breach.
In addition to the initial notice, Brookfield Investors learned of a subsequent IRS notification that targets individuals who may have had their tax identification information unlawfully disclosed. This notification emphasizes that the IRS is in the process of contacting additional impacted taxpayers, including those who received K-1 forms. As a proactive response, Brookfield Investors is ensuring that its clients remain informed about the potential risks to their data security.
To address any concerns regarding the breach, the IRS notice provides resources and contact information for individuals seeking more information. Although Brookfield Investors does not have direct evidence of personal data exposure among their clients, they are offering access to complimentary single bureau credit monitoring for up to 24 months. Additionally, individuals are encouraged to place a security freeze on their credit reports to protect against unauthorized access, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding sensitive personal information.
Reference:
