Got W2 from unknown company - never worked there in 2023, shows maiden name with SSA number not SSN - scam?

12 This definitely sounds suspicious and you should take immediate action. When you receive a W2 for employment you never had, it's often a sign of identity theft or someone using your SSN fraudulently. Here's what you should do right away: First, contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 1-800-908-4490 to report the suspicious W2. They can help place flags on your tax account to prevent further issues. Second, file a report with the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov - this creates an official record of the potential theft. Third, check your credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com to see if there's other suspicious activity. The "SSA number" instead of "SSN" is particularly odd, as legitimate W2 forms use standard formatting with "SSN." Also, the combination of your maiden name with your current address suggests someone has cobbled together information from different sources.

7 I went through something eerily similar last year with a fake W2. After spinning my wheels for weeks trying to get the IRS to help, I finally found https://taxr.ai which was an absolute lifesaver. Their document analysis tool immediately flagged several issues with my suspicious W2 that I hadn't even noticed - including some technical formatting issues that proved it was fraudulent. The best part was their transcript analysis feature - they compared the fake W2 against my actual IRS wage transcripts and showed definitively that the income wasn't reported to the IRS by any legitimate employer. This gave me exactly what I needed to handle the situation properly. Might be worth checking out for peace of mind!

24 I was skeptical about taxr.ai at first, but after hitting dead ends with the IRS phone line I decided to give it a try. I uploaded my suspicious W2 and connected my IRS transcript, and within minutes I had a comprehensive report showing that the employer EIN on my fake W2 wasn't even a registered business entity! The report also flagged unusual formatting issues with the tax withholding boxes that I never would have noticed. The detailed verification report made filing my identity theft affidavit so much easier because I had concrete evidence to submit. The IRS accepted my documentation without question, and I avoided what could have been a massive headache. Definitely worth checking out if you've received suspicious tax documents.

9 When I got a fraudulent 1099 last year, I spent WEEKS trying to get someone at the IRS on the phone for guidance. After 11 failed attempts and countless hours on hold, I found https://claimyr.com and tried their service. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c They basically held my place in the IRS phone queue and called me back when an actual agent was on the line. Got connected to a real IRS identity theft specialist in about 30 minutes instead of the 3+ hour waits I was experiencing before. The agent confirmed exactly what I needed to do about the fraudulent form and noted it in my file so I wouldn't have issues later. Seriously saved my sanity during tax season. With something like an unknown W2 showing up, talking directly to the IRS is really the best way to protect yourself.

24 I need to apologize for my skepticism earlier. After multiple failed attempts to reach the IRS on my own (getting disconnected twice after waiting over an hour each time), I reluctantly tried Claimyr. Within 45 minutes, I got a call back and was connected directly to an IRS agent who specialized in identity theft cases. The agent was able to immediately flag my account, verify what forms had actually been filed under my SSN, and give me specific instructions for handling the fraudulent W2 I received. She even created a case number I could reference for all future communications about this issue. I'm still annoyed I had to use a service to reach a government agency, but I can't argue with results - it worked exactly as promised and saved me hours of frustration.

15 Check if the W2 has a legitimate EIN (employer identification number) for the company. You can sometimes verify this through the IRS. Also, legit W2s should have the company's full address, phone number, and proper formatting. Often scammers mess up small details. The maiden name + current address combo is super suspicious. Might be worth checking your credit report ASAP to see if someone opened accounts in your maiden name too.

19 Did the W2 come in an envelope with the company's logo or letterhead? Or was it just a plain envelope? Sometimes the packaging can be a clue about legitimacy.

This is definitely identity theft and you need to act fast! I went through something very similar last year. Here's exactly what worked for me: 1. File Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) with the IRS immediately - don't wait until tax season 2. Call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 to report potential SSN misuse 3. Contact that "Apex Innovations" company directly if you can find legitimate contact info - sometimes they're victims too and someone filed fake paperwork using their name 4. Keep the original W-2 as evidence but make copies for your records The combination of your maiden name with current address is a classic sign someone pieced together your info from multiple sources. Also, legitimate W-2s are printed on special paper with watermarks - check if yours feels like regular printer paper. Most importantly, when you file your real tax return, attach a statement explaining you never worked for this company. The IRS sees this stuff all the time and they have procedures to handle it, but you need to be proactive about documenting everything.

This is definitely a red flag situation and you're right to be concerned. The fact that it shows your maiden name with your current address is a dead giveaway that someone has compiled information about you from different sources. Here's what I'd recommend doing immediately: 1. **Don't ignore it** - Even though you didn't work there, the IRS will eventually receive a copy of this W2 and expect you to report the income 2. **Contact the IRS Identity Protection Unit** at 1-800-908-4490 to report the fraudulent document 3. **File Form 14039** (Identity Theft Affidavit) - you can download it from the IRS website 4. **Request your IRS wage and income transcript** to see what employers have actually reported wages under your SSN 5. **Place a fraud alert** on your credit reports with all three bureaus The "SSA number" instead of "SSN" is particularly suspicious - legitimate W2s use standard IRS formatting. Also, check if the paper feels like regular printer paper versus the security paper that real W2s are printed on. When you file your taxes, include a statement explaining you never worked for this company and attach documentation of your identity theft report. The IRS deals with this frequently and has procedures in place, but you need to get ahead of it before they try to match unreported income to your return. Save everything - the envelope it came in, copies of all forms you file, and records of every phone call you make about this issue.