On May 29, 2024, Braverman CPA PC discovered suspicious activity related to its third-party tax filing software. The firm promptly informed the software vendor and its IT team. An internal investigation showed no issues within Braverman’s network, but on June 11, the software vendor reported that an unauthorized party had filed a fraudulent federal income tax return using the firm’s data.
Further investigation revealed that the unauthorized access might have compromised sensitive information, including names and Social Security numbers. The firm worked swiftly with the vendor to secure the system, notified the IRS, and reset its e-filing number to prevent further issues. On June 17, 2024, Braverman identified the individuals potentially affected by the breach.
Although the exact extent of the compromised information is unclear, it could include details like dates of birth, addresses, financial accounts, and driver’s license numbers. Braverman confirmed that its own network remained secure and that the breach only affected federal, not state, tax returns.
To address the incident, Braverman prioritized data security by alerting the IRS and cooperating with their investigation. Clients may receive IRS notifications about fraudulent returns, as the firm has already informed the IRS on their behalf.
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