YCSO warns IRS scams back for tax season

With tax season now underway and people filing their returns, Yuma County Sheriff Leon N. Wilmot reminds community residents about phone scammers claiming to be with the Internal Revenue Service, as well as several ongoing telephone scams that still continue to occur in the area.

The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office has received several calls recently in reference to the IRS scam, in which a caller poses as an Internal Revenue Service agent demanding money for unpaid tax debts — which takes advantage of a taxpayers inherent fear of the collection agency.

It’s the same scam that has been around for years, and often occurs in the months leading up to tax day, which this year falls on Tuesday, April 17.

In most versions of the IRS scam, the caller claims to be a police officer or an IRS agent who is demanding payment for unpaid taxes. If the victim refuses to cooperate,they are threatened by being told a warrant will be issued for their arrest. They’ll also want the money either wired or put on prepaid card.

Other scare tactics used include telling you that your bank account and other property will be seized, your home will be foreclosed on, your driver’s license will be suspended, and that a lawsuit will be filed against you.

In other versions the victim is either contacted by email or letter, with each attempting to obtain personal identification and/ or financial information in hopes of scaring the taxpayer into making a false tax payment.

“We encourage everyone to use extra precaution when responding to these scams as your personal or financial information is vital in their fraudulent schemes,” Wilmot said.

Since these bogus calls can take many forms and scammers are constantly changing their strategies, knowing the telltale signs is the best way to avoid becoming a victim. The IRS will never: • Call to demand immediate payment over the phone, nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill.

• Threaten to immediately bring in local police or other lawenforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.

• Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.

• Require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer.

• Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.

If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS and asking for money and you don’t owe taxes, here’s what you should do:

• Do not give out any information. Hang up immediately.

• Contact TIGTA (U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration) at 800-366-4484 to report the call:

• Report it to the Federal Trade Commission. Use the “FTC Complaint Assistant” on FTC.gov. Please add “IRS Telephone Scam” in the notes.

• If you think you might owe taxes, call the IRS directly at 800829-1040.