There have always been schemes to separate hardworking people from their hard-earned money. Recently there have been particularly aggressive attempts from people pretending to be from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Local tax preparers urge citizens to not give out any personal or financial information to someone who calls claiming to be from the IRS.
Sue Westerlind at George Maruska, Ltd., said the accounting firm has always received occasional concerns about scams from clients. However, she said this year the phone scams have became increasingly frequent—and threatening.
Westerlind said these callers may demand money or say you have a refund due and they try to trick you into divulging private information. “They sound really convincing,” said Westerlind. “They seem to know a lot about the person.”
Westerlind said the telephone scams have become so common that the IRS recently created a YouTube video to give people tips to avoid being conned. The video can be viewed at www.youtube.com/irsvideos.
The IRS also provided a list of five things that scammers often do, but the IRS would never do. 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 call the local police or other law enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.
Westerlind added that the IRS also does not use email, text messages or any social media to discuss your personal tax issues.
Chuck Flickinger, an AARP volunteer tax aide in Cook County, said his organization had also been contacted by clients frightened by calls that allegedly came from the IRS.
Flickinger contacted his tax advisor David Petrie who said, “Taxpayers should never talk to these people period. If they answer the call live, just hang up on them. Don’t give them any information whatsoever.
“Also the taxpayer should forget about it and not let it upset them in any manner,” said Petrie.
Flickinger said if AARP clients receive letters from the Minnesota Department of Revenue or the IRS about tax returns, they can contact Steve Deschene (370- 2184) or Chuck Flickinger (475-2776) to get help with a reply with the information the government needs.
Westerlind agreed. She said if you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS and asking for money, you should call a tax firm like George Maruska, Ltd. (387-1180) or the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.
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