This case involves a wealthy female banking professional from Connecticut who was charged with filing false tax returns and identity theft. It was alleged that the woman in question bypassed the authentication procedures in the electronic tax return filing process to direct refunds to pre-paid debit cards with the victims’ stolen identities in order to receive direct electronic tax refund deposits. An expert in the electronic tax return filing process used by the IRS was sought to opine on the case.
Question(s) For Expert Witness
1. Can you discuss your familiarity with the electronic tax return filing process used by the IRS?
2. Can you discuss your familiarity with white collar crime and the use of money orders?
Expert Witness Response E-061146
I have 20+ years of experience with the FBI where I investigated and managed hundreds of white collar crime cases. I am very familiar with the different means available for taxpayers to file returns electronically to include splitting refunds between qualified accounts which can be a checking, savings, or other accounts, such as an individual retirement arrangement (IRA), health savings account (HSA), and others. I am also aware that the IRS recently limited the number of direct deposit refunds to a single financial account or pre-paid debit card to 3. In many instances, refunds are directed to various prepaid gift cards. Fraud scenarios include criminals using PII to acquire electronic filing PINs from the IRS in the taxpayers' names and using them to bypass IRS authentication procedures to receive direct electronic tax refund deposits via prepaid cards. The prepaid cards have routing and account numbers, making them look like a legit direct deposit, without any real traceability if paid for by cash.
About the author
Victoria Negron
Victoria Negron has extensive experience in journalism and thought leadership in the legal space, with a background crafting content, whitepapers, webinars, and current event articles pertaining to the role of expert witnesses in complex litigation matters. She is a skilled professional specializing in B2B product marketing and content marketing. Currently, she serves as an Enterprise Product Marketing Manager at Postman, and previously held the position of Technical Product Marketing Manager at Palantir Technologies, where she developed her skills in launch strategies, go-to-market strategy, and competitive analysis.
Her expertise in content marketing was further refined during her tenure at the Expert Institute, where she progressed from a Marketing Writer to Senior Content Marketing Manager, and eventually to Associate Director of Content & Product Marketing. In these roles, she honed her abilities in digital marketing, SEO, content strategy, and thought leadership.
Educationally, Victoria holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Florida - Warrington College of Business and a Bachelor of Arts in Literature, Art, and Hispanic Studies from Hamilton College. Her diverse educational background and professional experience have equipped her with a robust skill set in product marketing, content development, and strategic marketing initiatives.
