It's tax season again citizens, and here's a tax prep place you might just want to avoid

According to a class action suit, and backed up by New York City detectives, the H&R Block at 3736 Riverdale Avenue in the Bronx MAY have hired identity thieves to work the seasonal tax preparation jobs so prevalent this time of year. Two women claim they went to this particular H&R Block and after filling out their taxes for a refund got calls the next day saying they had already filed and their thousands in refunds had already been paid out. That's a fine how do you do, no?

According to the New York Times article on this:

"Both Ms. Hawa and Mr. Johns said they were told by police detectives investigating their cases that at least 20 customers of the branch and possibly many more had been robbed by identity thieves who were very likely H&R Block employees. Both said that the fraudulent filers used their previous year’s adjusted gross income as proof of identity."

At LEAST 20. It seems upon doing some research this particular H&R Block in the Bronx isn't the only place tax-chickanery is taking place. In Indiana "two former H&R Block employees were charged last month with stealing the identities of more than 60 customers and pocketing at least $290,000.". Similar lawsuits to the one in New York have been filed in Arizona, Michigan and Illinois.

It seems kids that H&R Block could be doing a far better job of screening their employees, temporary or not. Maybe it costs a little more to run thorough background checks on all the seasonal help. Hard cheese, it's called cost of doing business H&R Block and until you learn that, stories like these denting your public image will continue to proliferate. In other words, worry more about your customers security than your own bottom line.