As Verde Valley taxpayers gather documentation for tax season, a slew of Internal Revenue Service phone scams has been reported to the Cottonwood Communication Center.Dispatchers themselves have been on the receiving end of these scam calls.
“Many of the citizens who reported [a scam] to the police department knew it was a scam but wanted to make us aware,” Cottonwood Police Sgt. Monica Kuhlt said in a media release. “Some called the number to see what they would be told.”
The scammers use fake telephone numbers and inform the recipient through an automated message that they’ve filed a fraudulent tax return. The voice message continues to say that the recipient must call a number immediately or they could go to jail.
“Of those who called the number, the person who answered hung up shortly after they weren’t provided with personal information and others said the number had been disconnected or changed,” Kuhlt said.
According to the IRS website, scammers will often target those with limited English speaking proficiency and will be approached in their first language. Thousands of people have lost millions of dollars and personal information to tax scams, according to the IRS website.
It is important to note that the IRS never initiates contact with taxpayers by email, text message or social media.
The IRS also does not:
- Ask for immediate payment through a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer. The IRS generally will mail a bill to anyone who owes taxes.
- Demand payment without giving the taxpayer a chance to question or appeal the amount owed.
- Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
- Threaten to bring in local law enforcement or immigration to arrest someone for not paying.
- Revoke driver’s license, business license or immigration status.
IRS collection employees will never call or come to a home or business unannounced to collect a debt, according to the IRS website. If the IRS visits someone, they will always provide two forms of official credentials: A pocket commission and HSPD-12 card.
Taxpayers have a right to these credentials. In addition to phone calls, scammers will also use email to trick victims into revealing personal information in a method called phishing.
These fake emails are designed to trick recipients into thinking they’re an official message from the IRS. According to the IRS website, life insurance and annuity updates from the taxpayer are not required by the IRS. For additional information from the IRS visit irs.gov.
Kelcie Grega can be reached at 634-8551, or email kgrega@larsonnewspapers.com
