CUMBERLAND, R.I. –
IRS scams are nothing new. They’ve robbed taxpayers of more than $20 million since 2013.
But the Rhode Island Attorney General said these crooks have been getting savvier. They tried to trick a Cumberland woman out of thousands of dollars.
“It did scare me quite a bit,” said Suzanne Levesque of Cumberland. “I definitely believed him.”
A few weeks ago Levesque received a voicemail, claiming she owed the IRS money.
When she called back, she was told she owed $6,700, and if she didn’t pay it, she would be arrested.
Levesque added, “He did sound convincing, he had me write down my case number so I could refer to it later.”
It wasn’t until Levesque asked for paperwork – and the man on the phone refused – that she realized she was being duped.
That’s when she so she Turned to 10 to warn other taxpayers.
“They’re very good with the interaction and one thing that does happen though, when you challenge these people – sometimes they get irritable and get more threatening,” said Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Kilmartin.
The criminals also use a technique called “spoofing,” which enables them to disguise the number they’re calling from.
“A number will show up on your phone and it looks like a legit federal or state office,” said Kilmartin.
The Attorney General’s Office also notes that these scammers have started targeting young people, as they’re new to paying taxes and often unfamiliar with how the system works.
If you get one of these calls, Kilmartin said, hang up. No government agency will call you demanding payment.
Don’t give them any information or money, no matter how convincing they sound.
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