Posted on December 19, 2018
The holiday season is a wonderful time of giving and helping others. Unfortunately, while we are busy preparing and spending time with our families, unsolicited phone scams that can result in serious expense or stolen identity are targeting Connecticut residents.
Please beware of scammers who continually adapt their techniques and even use automated “robocalls” – many linked to a local number to entice a person to answer – while trying to get residents to divulge personal information or send money. The calls vary, but many claim the IRS or local police have issued warrants for overdue bills or that the recipient has undisclosed “serious allegations” pending.
I have received a couple of these calls recently, and while I understand that they are very distressing, please know that the IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by phone, email, text messages or social media channels to request personal or financial information. This includes requests for PIN numbers or passwords for credit cards or banks. They will not call you demanding immediate payment using a specific payment method (i.e. prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer), that you pay taxes without the opportunity to question or appeal the amount, or threaten to bring in police or immigration officers to have you arrested.
Click here for information from the IRS on how to determine if it’s really them trying to contact you. If you suspect that you have received IRS or Treasury-related fraudulent calls, please report it to phishing@irs.gov (Subject: IRS Phone Scam) or file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) via their online form.