Now that tax season is here, federal officials are warning about scammers posing as IRS agents. The IRS says the tax scam is the most common tax scam, with victims losing more than $26 million. The most important thing to be aware of is that the IRS never makes its first contact with you via the telephone. The Federal Communications Commission voted March 23 to approve a rule that makes it easier for phone companies to block scammers who use fake Caller ID numbers to conceal their true identity and locations. Managing editor Tami Roleff gives tips on how you can avoid being a victim…
The IRS scam involves con artists who call people and tell them they owe money and are about to be arrested by police unless they immediately pay up. Amy Nofziger with the AARP says the IRS will never involve the police or ask for money to be wired.
“The IRS will never require that you use a specific payment method, such as prepaid debit card, wire transfer, money order. We’ve even heard of scammers asking for people to go and get gift cards.”
She says identity theft tends to spike this time of year, when scammers use a person’s stolen birthdate and Social Security number to try and intercept their income tax refund. Never leave mail with personal information in a mailbox, and she advises you to use a shredder, too.
“Always shred your personal and private information, and use a confetti shredder, because there are people that have a lot of time on their hands that will sit there and put those pieces of paper back together.”
If you think you are the victim of a tax scam, you can report it at sources in this story at z1077fm.com
•To report someone impersonating an IRS employee, contact the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at (800) 366-4484 or www.tigta.gov
•For cases of identity theft involving state taxes, contact the California Franchise Tax Board at (916) 845-3669 or https://www.ftb.ca.gov/individuals/id_theft.shtm
IRS TELEPHONE SCAM ACTIVE IN OUR MORONGO BASIN
