Local officials warn of IRS phone scams

Joey Keys of the Better Business Bureau is warning Cape Girardeau residents of IRS phone scams.

Keys said the IRS scam is a favorite trope, and Cape Girardeau residents received them in October. With tax season getting into full swing, Keys expects scam calls to increase in frequency.

Jason Hutson received a call from a Washington, D.C., area code Tuesday that left a message saying the IRS was going to sue. When Hutson tried to call back Wednesday, he said he was routed to a man with an Indian accent, who hung up when Hutson asked to record the call.

"Old people might give it thinking they owe money," Hutson said. "I knew right away that it was a scam."

Keys said some scammers are sophisticated enough to produce fake IRS badge numbers and to give names of real IRS employees found on the IRS website. The IRS sends a mail notice of taxes owed before any type of calls are made, Keys said. Keys also recommends never giving personal information unless you're sure the person on the other end of the call is legitimate.

Cape Girardeau Police Department public information officer Richard McCall said the department hasn't received calls about IRS scams, but he recommends avoiding tax-related identity theft. Warning signs for identity theft include having more than one tax return being filed under a resident's Social Security number, the resident owing additional taxes and the IRS says the resident received income from a foreign employer.

Some ways to avoid identity theft include using strong passwords and using software with firewalls, avoid clicking on suspicious emails and not carrying Social Security cards. Phishing scams can be reported directly to the IRS.

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644