Sheriff: IRS Scam Still Out There

An IRS scam is still out there and has been hitting the area hard lately, according to Sheriff Michael Hall.

“The IRS will not call and say that they will send the Sheriff’s Office out to arrest you,” Hall explained.

There are a number of money-grabbing scams circulating, all of which contact a victim through a telephone call or an email. Sometimes, scammers claim to be with the IRS. Other times, they pitch a get-richquick scheme that usually incorporates a money order.

“If you receive a phone call from what looks like your area phone number and it is a recording … it is most likely a scam,” Hall said. “I had a subject call me today and say that I called him. I explained that I had not and he said it was a recording. I explained that they can spoof people’s phone numbers — I even get them.”

If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, there are certain steps you should take.

If you know you owe taxes or you think you might owe taxes, call the IRS at 1-800829-1040. The IRS employees at that line can help you with a payment issue, if such an issue really exists.

If you know you don’t owe taxes or have no reason to think that you owe any taxes (for example, you’ve never received a bill or the caller made some bogus threats as described above), then call and report the incident to TIGTA at 1-800-366-4484.

You can also file a complaint online using the FTC Complaint Assistant, at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/.

When you’ve opened the webpage, select “Other” and then “Imposter Scams.” If the complaint involves someone impersonating the IRS, include the words “IRS Telephone Scam” in the notes.

Hall said one of the newer scams the Sheriff’s Office has encountered involves an email about being a “mystery shopper.”

“You’re instructed to get a postal money order, deposit the money, and purchase $40 worth of items at Walmart. Then you’re to deduct $120 for your “commission” and send the remaining money to another agent via Moneygram or Western Union,” Hall said.

The fake postal money order is very convincing and almost fooled a postal employee, he added.

“Any type of process that requires you to deposit money and then send some of it to another person, company, or back to a company is a scam,” Hall warned. “A legitimate company will not write out a check, money order, or any other form of payment for more than what is owed.”

The scammers are becoming more creative and are trying new things all the time.

“There are so many other scams out there so please stay alert and try and let your friends, family, and neighbors know about scams,” Hall said.

Below is another good reference website to help people in reporting fraud.

The National Fraud Information Center, www.fraud. org, is perhaps the best site for reporting fraud in the U.S. The NFIC accepts reports about attempts to defraud consumers on the telephone or the Internet. However, it does not accept reports about home improvement, auto sales, or other transactions that usually take place at consumers’ homes or retail stores. It includes the Internet Fraud Watch.

There is a very good section of the site on fraud against the elderly, said Hall.

Also included is an excellent set of federal, local and non-profit links, including the state attorney generals for many states: www.fraud. org/info/links.htm.