Scammers posing as IRS agents trying to dupe Ohio residents into handing over personal information are stepping up their efforts.
In a seven-day period ending Nov. 25, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said his office fielded more than 600 complaints from consumers who received such calls. That was triple the number of complaints from the week before.
Nationally, nearly 4,550 victims have paid more than $23 million to the con artists in the past two years, according to the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
The scam generally begins with a phone call or voicemail message telling the consumer that he or she is in trouble with the IRS and must call a certain phone number for more information.
When consumers call the provided number, they are told they must send money using a prepaid card or wire transfer to correct the problem. Ultimately, any money sent will go to a scam artist, not the IRS.
“Many people hear the word ‘IRS’ and are scared to death,” DeWine said in a news release. “If you get one of these calls, hang up and take a moment to think about it. The real IRS isn’t going to call you demanding immediate payment.”
In some recent variations of the scam, the con artist claims to be “David Gray,” and tells consumers that a lawsuit will be filed against them, that they have committed a crime, or that they will be arrested.
DeWine offered the following tips:
• Don’t trust someone who demands that you pay immediately via wire transfer or prepaid card. These are preferred payment methods for scam artists.
• Don’t respond to robocalls. Don’t interact with the caller. Don’t call a number left on your phone or in a message. Responding lets con artists know your number belongs to a real person.
• Use a call-blocking option on your phone if available.
• Contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at www.OhioAttorney General.gov or 800-282-0515 for assistance.