Tax scams happen year-round. But with the April 15th filing deadline just a week away, we’re hearing about several incidents.
For instance, scammers calling residents in Lakewood claiming to be from theIRS. Someone actually filing phony returns using the social security numbers of several residents in Westlake.
In the Westlake cases, four people told police someone filed a tax return in their name using their social security numbers.
The IRS is investigating those incidents.
Police in Lakewood said late last month someone called several residents claiming to be from the IRS and demanding direct payments for taxes. One woman told police the caller even threatened her family.
“I’ve had several people come in here and say the IRS just called me,” mentioned Rachel Ruffing from Liberty Tax Service in Lakewood .
She said she’s had clients who’ve received similar calls from scammers.
She offered one simple tip, “The number one rule is the IRS will not call you. They are 98% strictly by mail. They do not send emails and they do not make phone calls. So, if you’re going to get a correspondence, you are going to get it through the mail.”
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source: 19Actionnews.com
