The Archdiocese of Seattle is hosting a meeting on Friday in Longview for employees and volunteers of Southwest Washington Catholic churches and schools who believe they may be victims of tax identity fraud.
An undetermined number of church employees and volunteers in Western Washington have discovered that fraudulent refund claims have been made using their Social Security numbers.
The archdiocese has hired the New York-based forensic security firm Stroz Friedberg to find the source of the data breach, and is also working with the FBI and the IRS.
Church officials and IRS Special Agent in Charge Kenneth Hines of the Seattle Field Office will answer questions at a meeting from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at St. Rose Parish, 2571 Nichols Blvd. in Longview.
Those who attend the meeting will have a chance to file a formal written statement. An “Identity Theft Victim Form” is available on the Archdiocese of Seattle website at www.seattlearchdiocese.org/. Attendees are encouraged to fill it out in advance.
