Every year identity thieves are coming up with new ways to try to scam people into giving them personal information. One of the more recent scams has been towards college students, according to the Montgomery Advertiser.
Callers are identifying themselves as IRS employees and telling students they have to send money for the “Federal Student Tax”. But no such tax exists. And the IRS website has reported another scam: IRS impersonators demanding payments on iTunes Gift Cards.
Harper said the IRS have seen these scams flourish even after the tax deadline.
Doug Barfield from Himmelwright, Huguley & Boles, an Auburn accounting firm, has not received any notice of these specific scams happening yet. However, they are still being targeted by these scam artists.
“We've received a lot of reports and identity theft,” Barfield said. “We get lots of phishing emails posing as the IRS asking us for client data.”
Barfield provided many tips for anyone who is not sure if they are getting scammed.
“If you don't see the email signature of the company in that email, it is spam,” Barfield said. "If there is a name you definitely want to Google their name and see if they are part of the IRS.”
Barfield continued by saying that the IRS will not call asking for immediate payment. They will only call after they have sent you a written notice for a bill.
These scam artists also say they will threaten to call the police if the person doesn’t agree to pay.
“The IRS allows you the right to challenge or appeal any notice from them, and they will never threaten to call the police on you,” Barfield said.
Barfield mentioned that he hopes all clients will always use them as an advocate between the client and the IRS.
If you have received any suspicious calls from somebody posing as an IRS agent, call the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 800-366-4484.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
