. >> adrian thompson is a middle school teacher living in d.c. has been awaiting his tax return. >> we have cruise set up for us as well as taking a class to my last prerequisite. >> he is looking forward to more than $1,000 on his refund. was expecting until he got a phone call. >> just a few days ago, you filed your taxes and everything went through. normally until we receive the rejection can code. >> that showed us that his information was filed on a return this year. >> andrea smith is a certified tax preparer but someone got to the irs before he did. >> somebody not me. >> somebody not him filed a fraudulent return in his name. now what? he has to fight for his identity. >> he had to prove he was not married and didn't have children. >> you are adrian thompson know so. i am talking to the adrian thompson. what are you going to do to get your money back? >> i need to be in good communication with the irs. >> can you say that again. >> you will have to mail this off. >> about nine months it will take to get his identity and taxes fixed. >> ev

you're adrian thompson. >> yes. >> reporter: i'm talking to the adrian thompson. what do you have to do to get your money back? >> well apparently i need to be in some good communication with the irs. >> reporter: you can say that again. >> you're going to have to mail this off. >> reporter: about nine months that's how long andrea says it will take to get his identity and his taxes fixed. eventually he can get his money back. >> yeah vempblly. but it is lengthy. >> reporter: and there's going to be a headache. >> yes. >> may be a long process but i'm going to do what i have to to. >> so frustrate farg lot of people. last tax season the irs prevented $24 billion from getting in the hands of criminals. one way to protect yourself, if you use online tax preparation software change your login now. we'll tell you what to do if you become a victim at nbcwashington.com. just search "tax fraud." you can also read how it happened to another person on our news4 app. jim and wendy? >> thank you, erika. >>> fairfax county police say they got the man who allegedly started tha

. >> adrian thompson lives in d.c. and he is a middle school teacher looking forward to summer vacation. >> me and my girlfriend -- the last prerequisite. >> he is looking forward to more than $1,000 on the tax refund. was expecting until he got a phone call. >> just a few days ago you filed your taxes and everything went through normally until we received a rejection code. >> rejection code. >> the reject code showed his information was already filed on a return this year. >> this tax preparer helped him file the return but someone got to the irs before he did. >> somebody not me. >> somebody not him filed a tax return in his name. how he has to fight for the identity. >> he has to show he is not married and doesn't have children. >> i am talking to the adrian thompson. what are you going to do to get your money back? >> apparently i need to be in good communication with the irs. >> can you say that again. >> you are going to have to mail this off. >> about nine months is how long it will take to get his identity and