Senator Brasch Warns of Scam

Senator Lydia Brasch would like constituents to be aware of a current telephone scam involving an automated message claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Because many taxpayers are in the process of gathering records in preparation of filing taxes, the timing and nature of these calls can be especially alarming to those unfamiliar with legitimate IRS procedures. The automated messages from these scam calls contain threats of legal proceedings by the IRS and assert that recipients of these scam calls will have their assets seized as the result of their inability to pay their taxes.

According to a press release issued by the IRS on April 14, 2014 during a similar scam:

Other characteristics of this scam include:

• Scammers use fake names and IRS badge numbers. They generally use common names and surnames to identify themselves.
• Scammers may be able to recite the last four digits of a victim’s Social Security number.
• Scammers spoof the IRS toll-free number on caller ID to make it appear that it’s the IRS calling.
• Scammers sometimes send bogus IRS emails to some victims to support their bogus calls.
• Victims hear background noise of other calls being conducted to mimic a call site.
• After threatening victims with jail time or driver’s license revocation, scammers hang up and others soon call back pretending to be from the local police or DMV, and the caller ID supports their claim.

However, “The IRS will always send taxpayers a written notification of any tax due via the U.S. mail. The IRS never asks for credit card, debit card or prepaid card information over the telephone.”

Senator Brasch urges consumers to be on guard against these scams and to never reveal personal information over the phone after receiving an incoming call. Any organization legitimately requesting such information over the phone will be able to provide alternative contact information to process such requests.

The IRS press release continues:

If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, here’s what you should do:

• If you know you owe taxes or you think you might owe taxes, call the IRS at 1.800.829.1040. The IRS employees at that line can help you with a payment issue, if there really is such an issue.
• 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 the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 1.800.366.4484.
• You can file a complaint using the FTC Complaint Assistant; choose “Other” and then “Imposter Scams.” If the complaint involves someone impersonating the IRS, include the words “IRS Telephone Scam” in the notes.

Please refer to the IRS press release that is available at http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/IRS-Reiterates-Warning-of-Pervasive-Telephone-Scam for more information.

Senator Lydia Brasch