MADISON, Wis. (WHBL) — State and federal consumer protection officials continue to field a massive number of complaints about phony IRS collections calls.
The calls continue to come in across the country, but Wisconsin consumer protection administrator Frank Frazetta says federal and local officials are finally starting to track some of the crooks down. “Federal authorities announced that they had arrested five people in Miami who are accused of tricking 1,500 victims into paying a total of $2 million.” A new angle to the scam is automation of those calls, which are now often leaving voicemail messages threatening residents with audit or arrest without immediate payment.
Unfortunately, Frazetta says the equipment used by many of these crooks to pull of their scams can be simply purchased over the Internet, making it hard to keep track of all of the groups that are trying to bilk people out of their money. “You can get it anywhere, and when you put it into gear and start working this thing, there are unsuspecting people all over the place.” That includes ways to process and drain gift cards and prepaid debit cards, and the computer software to make robocalls. “Because as the technology advances, it’s great for us, it’s great for our day to day business, but it’s also a treasure trove for thieves that are looking to use this technology to their advantage.”
Sheboygan police sergeant Joel Kuszynski reminds people that the IRS does not demand payment over the phone. “The IRS will always send you a bill or a notice, saying you’re past due on your filing or payments, and they’ll never call and threaten you or give specific information on what kind of payment to submit.”
If you get one of these calls, simply hang up. If you’ve been scammed, contact local authorities.
