Verde Valley AZ (August 25, 2016) – Due to a recent influx of reported IRS tax scam calls over the last few days, the Sheriff’s Office is reissuing updated informational warnings shared late last year. Almost daily, many Sheriff’s Office employees are also receiving the scam calls.
The most common complaint involves scam artists acting as IRS agents and calling to demand money or indicate a tax refund is due as a means to obtain personal information. When the scammer claims an overdue tax payment, they will demand the taxpayer send cash via prepaid debit cards or ITunes gift cards. The calls are intimidating because many times the scammers are able to share specific knowledge they have regarding tax payer identification in order to appear more convincing.
Some victims are also reporting that suspects are making threats if there is a refusal to cooperate. These so called ‘IRS agents’ claim a “warrant will be issued for your arrest” or the local police will be sent to your home if you do not comply immediately. Neither will ever happen. Please report such calls to your local law enforcement agency. Also, consider simply blocking calls from frequently used scam phone numbers. If you get a voicemail message demanding a tax payment, delete the message. Avoid engaging these suspects on the phone.
Recently, law enforcement officers from YCSO and the Prescott Valley Police Department have been successful in stopping fraud payments sent from unwitting victims due to early intervention.
PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH OLDER FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS AS THEY ARE GENERALLY TARGETS OF THESE SUSPECTS.
The IRS has provided the following tips:
The IRS will NEVER –
-
Call to demand immediate payment, nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill. - 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.
- Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
- Threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.
Call to demand immediate payment, nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill.If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS and asking for money, here’s what you should do:
- If you know you owe taxes or think you might owe, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. The IRS workers can help you with a payment issue.
- If you know you don’t owe taxes or have no reason to believe that you do, report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 1-800-366-4484 or at www.tigta.gov.
- If you’ve been targeted by this scam, also contact the Federal Trade Commission and use their “FTC Complaint Assistant” at FTC.gov.
Remember, too, the IRS does not use email, text messages, or any social media to discuss your personal tax issue involving bills or refunds. For more information on reporting tax scams, go to www.irs.gov and type “scam” in the search box.
The IRS has a recently published webpage updated with what they call the “Dirty Dozen” Tax Scams for 2015. The page also provides contact information to report such scams. The link is here:
http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/IRS-Completes-the-Dirty-Dozen-Tax-Scams-for-2015
Additional information on the tax scam issued by the IRS earlier this month:
Also, the IRS has some great information regarding scams and identity theft on YouTube –
See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y5z0kWgBcM
Citizens can contact the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office with information or questions at 928-771-3260 or the YCSO website: www.ycsoaz.gov