We’ve previously discussed bookkeeping and tax scams and have a brand new one to report. This one involves the alleged scammers calling around the city, posing as police, and accuse whoever answers of tax evasion.
The scammers claim to be part of the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, which to our knowledge, does not concern itself with tax evasion, aka a civil matter. Indeed, the Sheriff’s Office is far more concerned with criminal matters, especially those in progress or that have just concluded.
More on the Tax Scam
The matter was brought to public attention when the office received many calls from those in the area claiming they had been contacted over the phone and threatened. “We’ve gotten a lot of calls in the last 90 days, roughly 70 to 80 calls,” reported Sheriff Donald Valenza, Chief Deputy at Houston County Sheriff’s Office.
The callers are said to tell whoever answers that they are under investigation, possible indictment, aka in big trouble from tax evasion and must settle their account over the phone, something that reeks of a tax scam. At least other scammers know enough to pretend they are the Internal Revenue Service, or some made up tax agency.
Once they get a hold of a “live one,” they then begin to ask for personal data, including name, address birthday, social security number, and even bank account and credit card information.
“That’s a way to get identity theft on you. We are asking you not to respond to them,” Sheriff Valenza added. “I think they are randomly just getting numbers. They could get it out of a phone book or could make up the number.”
He also went on to say the scammers have the technology to make it look like they are calling from an official Sheriff Office’s phone number, so don’t be fooled.
How We Know It’s a Scam
Only the IRS can accuse you of tax evasion, unless you are unfortunate enough to live in a state with an income tax. They never use the phone to make an initial contact. First, they will send a letter with all of your info already on it, which can include your tax return data such as how much income you reported, how much taxes you paid/ how much you received in your tax return, and how much they think you owe. They will also include a number for you to call, in addition to the options to respond via mail, either of which works just fine.
The most important thing to remember is that even if you are guilty of tax evasion and have achieved criminal status, it is not procedure for a sheriff’s deputy to call the tax evader and offer them a settlement over the phone.
What to do if you Suspect a Tax Scam
If you know or suspect a tax scam, there are a few ways to report it that are fairly easy:
- Visit the Department of the Treasury Website https://www.treasury.gov/Pages/default.aspx and find the page marked IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting to file a complaint
- Call 800-366-4484 to report the tax scam
- Fill out tax form 14157 or 14157-A to file a complaint and/or report that someone has falsely filed or prepared a tax return on your behalf without your consent.
- Report the scam via emails by sending the scam details to Phishing@irs.gov
Tax Preparation and Scams in Houston
And if you are in need of tax preparation or advice in Houston or the surrounding area, please contact me.