The resources that the federal government has access to are vast, and those resources are combined to target individuals in sting operations. When they are conducted over the internet, it is even easier to target individuals. Many internet users falsely believe that once something is deleted, it is gone. However, federal investigators have the tools to access information a person thought was gone forever.

One of these operations targeted 105 people and resulted in 80 complaints and indictments and 58 arrests across 23 states this past week. The investigation searched for possible suspects of online identity theft and tax refund fraud from Alaska to Florida. The timing of the arrests was carefully planned to occur just as tax season gets underway.

Local U.S. attorney's offices were asked to combine their resources with the Internal Revenue Service, the Tax Division of the Justice Department and the U.S. Postal System. The investigators used the internet and visited 150 money services buildings where they believed some of the identity theft and fraudulent filings were made.

According to IRS officials, the individuals obtained other's identities -- Social Security numbers in most cases -- and used them to fraudulently file for tax refunds. According to the agency, in 2010 there were approximately 260,000 income tax returns where identity fraud was confirmed.

Steve Miller, the deputy commissioner for services and enforcement with the IRS said that they "want to send a message out there."

Mass sweeps done in a short amount time could lead to mistakes and the violation of individual rights.

Source: Florida Today, "IRS identity theft bust spans Florida, 22 other states," Jan. 31, 2012