Nov. 28, 2017 Contact: Ron Leix, Treasury, 517-335-2167
Never Provide Personal Information Over
the Phone
LANSING, Mich. – The
Michigan Department of Treasury is warning taxpayers of aggressive and
threatening phone calls made by criminals impersonating state tax officials.
Within the last couple of days, the state Treasury Department has observed
a surge in scam phone calls where scammers are claiming to be state tax
officials and asking for cash through a wire transfer, prepaid debit card or
gift card. Victims are told they owe money and will face arrest, legal action
or suspension of business if not paid promptly.
Scammers are also
altering caller ID numbers to make it look like Treasury is calling. The
callers may use employee titles, a person’s name, address and other personal
information to sound official.
“Unfortunately, scammers
are consistently using new tricks and tactics to take advantage of taxpayers,”
said Deputy Treasurer Glenn White, head of Treasury’s Tax Administration Group.
“The Michigan Department of Treasury doesn’t initially contact taxpayers
through the phone. Our first interaction is generally done by mail.”
Treasury will never:
- Initiate a phone call
to ask for personal information.
- Call to demand immediate
payment using a specific payment method, such as a prepaid debit card, gift
card or wire transfer. Generally, Treasury will first mail a bill to any taxpayer
who owes taxes.
- Threaten to immediately bring
in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have the taxpayer arrested
for not paying.
- Demand that taxes be paid
without giving the taxpayer the opportunity to question or appeal the amount
owed.
- Ask for a PIN, password or
access codes to your bank accounts or credit or debit card numbers over the
phone.
Taxpayers who don’t
owe taxes or don’t think they owe taxes should hang up immediately if they
receive one of these calls. For individuals who owe taxes or think they do,
they can call 517-636-5265 to find out their account balance information.
Taxpayers who have
received a call from a scammer should report the case to the IRS through
the web or by calling 800-366-4484.
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