The Internal Revenue Service is warning Iowans about a sophisticated telephone scam targeting taxpayers.
Christopher Miller, the I-R-S spokesman for Iowa, says anyone may be at risk for getting one of these calls, but the con artists are also singling out recent immigrants, who may be easier prey…
“The victims are told that they owe money to the IRS and that the money has to be paid promptly through a preloaded debit card or a wire transfer,” Miller says. “If they refuse, they are threatened with arrest or deportation or suspension of a business or driver’s license.”
The scam is being used on taxpayers in nearly every state in the country — and he says they are calling Iowans.
Victims may also hear background noise of other calls being conducted to mimic an I-R-S call site. If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the I-R-S and you might owe taxes, Miller says to call the agency at 800-829-1040 to see if there really is an issue.
