New York State Department of Taxation and Finance September 14, 2015
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Consumer Alert: NYS Tax Department Issues Warning Following Reports of Suspicious Phone CallsCriminals, posing as IRS or Tax Department employees, use scare tactics to swindle New Yorkers out of cash and private information |
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The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance today reminded New Yorkers to be mindful of tax scams. Despite the tax season being over, con artists are working year-round to swindle unsuspecting taxpayers out of cash and their personal information. “We are receiving initial reports from taxpayers who received threatening calls perpetrated by individuals posing as Tax Department employees,” said New York State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Jerry Boone. “We encourage taxpayers to contact us if they suspect they have received this type of malicious telephone call.” Taxpayers have recently contacted the Department to report suspicious phone calls from individuals posing as Tax Department employees. The callers threatened arrest and seizure of possessions if immediate payment was not made for a fictitious tax debt. The Department is actively investigating these reports. Tips to Identify Tax Scams Scammers will threaten you over the phone. A caller – posing as an IRS or Tax Department employee – will demand that you immediately make payment for a tax debt. He or she also may threaten you with police action or deportation.
Scammers will demand that you pay in a specific way. For instance, con artists often demand that payments can only be made through wire transfers, prepaid debit cards or even in-person.
Scammers might tell you the last four digits of your social security number or other private information. Con artists may have access to personal information about you, and use it trick you out of money or additional information.
Scammers will try to trick you through phishing emails. Con artists, sometimes using what appears to be the official logo of a federal or state agency, will use email to ask you to provide personal information or access to bank accounts.
Don’t Become a Victim
Who to Contact
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