Estate & Asset Protection Attorney, Victoria Collier talks about the devastating effects tax fraud can have on those with a fixed income and encourages asset protection plans be put in place.

DECATUR, GA, May 17, 2018: Victoria L. Collier, founder of The Estate & Asset Protection Law Firm, has posted a new article on her law firm’s website entitled “You Never Know When or How Fraudsters Will Find You.” Ms. Collier’s concern for the innocent victims of identity and tax fraud is apparent in her latest article.

Collier writes, “I was recently hired by a client who lives in a nursing home and is on Medicaid.” She elaborates, “Not long ago, this client received a termination notice from the state Medicaid office because of an IRS notification stating this client had “additional” income. Can you imagine the terror when your health insurance is terminated?”

“My client did not have any additional income,” Collier points out. She continues adding, “What happened is that some criminal filed a false tax return using my client’s Social Security number. They reported fake income presumably to get a tax refund, which initiated a report to Medicaid and caused my client to lose Medicaid coverage until we could clear up the mess.”

Collier emphasizes, “This case is of great concern to me because of the great number of people, particularly the elderly, disabled or ill who are not savvy to the methods criminals employ to get private information like Social Security numbers, birthdates, financial information and more.” She adds, “Tax fraud is on the rise. When it happens to anyone on a fixed income, which is often the case with the disabled, ill and elderly, the disruption can be devastating.”

Collier goes on to cite research that shows the growth of tax fraud in general and the rise in fraud against seniors in particular. She quotes from an article in Association of Mature American Citizens which states, “Senior ID Theft is the Top FTC Consumer Complaint. … 36 percent of individuals at 50 years of age and older are victims of ID Theft. 49 percent of individuals 50 years of age and older are victims of fraud. For the 12th year in a row, identity theft complaints topped the list.”

According to Collier, “Preventative measures are the best approach. Asset protection, particularly when assets are not unlimited, can be integral to preventing criminals gaining access to your finances.”

The entire article can be read at https://www.elderlawgeorgia.com/you-never-know-when-or-how-fraudsters-will-find-you/

About Victoria Collier

Victoria L. Collier, CELA founded The Elder & Disability Law Firm of Victoria L. Collier, P.C. to serve the legal needs of seniors when their health care needs increase. Victoria is also Co-Founder of Collier Scott Financial Solutions, LLC. At both firms WE BELIEVE that people should not have to lose everything they’ve worked a lifetime to earn and that every person is an individual who deserves respect and the highest quality of life possible, regardless of age or ability.

Victoria enlisted in the U.S. Air Force during Desert Storm, 1989-1995, and also served in the U.S. Army Reserves, 1Lt. 2001-2004, JAG Corps. Victoria is a national expert on the VA Wartime Pension for veterans and their widows who need additional assistance with activities of daily living and helping them qualify for and receive tax-free income from the VA to pay for it. Victoria graduated from Valdosta State University with a B.A. in Psychology and then University of Nebraska, College of Law. In 2014, Victoria was awarded with the Alumni Master Award from the University of Nebraska.

Victoria is a Certified Elder Law Attorney through The National Elder Law Foundation and has been named as the only attorney in Georgia as “Fellow” of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). Victoria was appointed by Governor Perdue to the Georgia Council on Aging, 2010 – 2016 and was awarded Dekalb County Veteran of the Year, 2013. She is the author of 47 Secret Veterans Benefits for Seniors; Paying for Long Term Care – Financial Help for Wartime Veterans: The VA Aid & Attendance Benefit. Victoria has co-authored several books: Blooper Episodes in Estate Planning, Don’t Go Broke in a Nursing Home, and Protect Your IRA: Avoid the 5 Common Mistakes. Most notably, Victoria co-authored the National Best Seller, The Road to Success, with Jack Canfield, author of Chicken Soup for the Soul series.

About The Estate & Asset Protection Law Firm

The Estate & Asset Protection Law Firm was established to serve the legal needs of retiring citizens. The Firm focuses its entire practice on providing strategies to protect independence, privacy, assets and taxes from the government. Victoria Collier has grown her law practice and financial services practice by providing excellent customer satisfaction with personalized wealth protection plans.