Beware of Telelphone Tax Scams
During tax season, there are increased efforts by criminals to scam taxpayers out of their money by impersonating Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Treasury Department employees through unsolicited telephone calls, according to an announcement from the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO).
These scammers are demanding cash payments for unpaid taxes via prepaid debit cards, money orders, or wire transfers from their banks, the announcement said.
According to the IRS, the agency generally first contacts taxpayers by mail—not by phone—concerning owed taxes, and it will never ask for payments using a prepaid debit card, money order, or wire transfer. The IRS will never request personal or financial information by e-mail, text, or any social media. The callers who commit this fraud often:
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•Utilize an automated robo-call machine.
•Use common names and fake IRS badge numbers.
•May know the last four digits of the victim’s Social Security number.
•Make caller ID information appear as if the IRS is calling.
•Aggressively demand immediate payment to avoid being criminally charged or arrested.
•Claim that hanging up the telephone will cause the immediate issuance of an arrest warrant for unpaid taxes.
•Send bogus IRS e-mails to support their scam.
•Call a second or third time claiming to be the police, FBI, U.S. Marshals or a department of motor vehicles, and the caller ID again supports their claim.
Persons who get a call from someone claiming to be with the IRS asking for a payment, here’s what to do, the JCSO says:
•If you owe Federal taxes, or think you might owe taxes, hang up and call the IRS at 800-829-1040. IRS workers can help you with your payment questions.
•If you do not owe taxes, fill out the “IRS Impersonation scam” form on the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration’s website, www.tigta.gov, or call TIGTA at 800-366-4484.
•You can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at www.FTC.gov. Add “IRS Telephone Scam” to the comments in your complaint.
Scams that are attempted by e-mail, text or other social media are called “phishing.” Phishing attacks are emails or malicious websites (among other channels) that solicit personal information from an individual or company. You should forward scam e-mails to phishing@irs.gov. Do not open any attachments or click on any links in those e-mails.
Persons may also contact the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov.or call the FBI office in Macon direct at 478-745-1271.
To avoid becoming a victim, it is important that persons know some of the common characteristics of a scam so that they can keep a sharp eye and ear out for potential fraudsters. Generally, scam communications:
•Are unsolicited
•Are pushy and can be intimidating, threatening arrests or penalties if payment for an unknown tax debt is not made immediately
•Demand payment in full and in some instances via unconventional means such as iTunes cards, cash transfers or gift vouchers
•Ask you for your personal or financial information or to confirm information they pretend they have
•May promise you a tax refund in exchange for a payment or personal information
•May contain an attachment or fake links requesting you to lodge a form—opening these attachments or links can cause you to download spyware or a virus.
Common elements in scams include:
•Aggressive and relentless
•Authoritative, false representation
•Threatening (Legal action, seizure of property or arrest)
•Demand immediate payment
•Usually insist on a credit card number for payment
•Demand secrecy
When a caller suspects a telephone call that is received is a scam attempt he or she should:
•NOT engage the caller in any conversation
•NOT answer any questions
•NOT reveal ANY personal or financial information (even if it appears harmless)
•Hang up immediately
•If the scammer should call back, hang up immediately, again
These criminals most likely are operating from another country which means it is highly unlikely they will be identified and prosecuted. If you gave them any financial information, your money is gone.
“A scam is a crime. It is theft, and no matter what the method or the fabrications, scammers have only one purpose: To separate you from your money. Don’t let them!” said the JCSO.
“Please remember that the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office is here to help you! If you believe for one second the person contacting you is a scam artist, call us ANYTIME AT 706-468-4912.”
