A concerned citizen called the Madison County Carrier to bring to the attention of the public that an IRS scammer is on the prowl. The call came from the number (360) 244-4262 and the voice on the other end sounded as if it could be a real person. Thankfully the citizens involved realized the scam and weren’t taken advantage of, and were also quick to alert the public so that no other citizen could be pulled in by the scam. The IRS wants citizens to know that a scam can be easily recognized when a supposed IRS caller rings your phone and demands money. There are five things the scammers might do that the IRS will not; anyone of these five signs can alert people to the telltale scam going on. The IRS will never: 1. Call to demand immediate payment. Neither will they call about taxes owed without first mailing you a bill. 2. Demand you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe. 3. Require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card. 4. Ask for credit card or debit card numbers over the phone. 5. Threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying. If you get a call from a number claiming to be from the IRS and asking for money, there are three options for you to take. If you know you owe taxes or think that you might owe, you can call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. The IRS workers can work with you regarding payment issues. 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 (TIGTA) at 1-800-366-4484 or at www.tigta.gov. You can also file a complaint using the FTC Complaint Assistant at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov. Remember, 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 regarding tax scams, go to www.irs.gov.
IRS scam warning
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