Vermont Business Magazine According to the Vermont Attorney General, Vermonters are continuing to report receipt of threatening recorded phone calls (robocalls) that claim to be from the IRS or the United States Treasury. Today, calls appear to be targeting Barre, Brattleboro and Burlington. We can expect that calls will be directed at consumers in other municipalities later this week. The caller threatens arrest or legal action if an alleged outstanding debt to the IRS is not immediately paid. The caller demands payment by either cashier’s check, wire transfer, bank transfer, or other direct and immediate means of payment, such as a gift card. If the call is not answered, the caller then leaves a message that directs the consumer to call a phone number or face arrest. This is not the IRS calling – this is a scam.
The IRS does not contact citizens and threaten arrest or lawsuit. The real IRS initiates contact with taxpayers by mail before contacting a taxpayer by phone. The IRS does not use email messages, text messages or social media channels to request personal or financial information.
Consumers should not provide any information to the caller and should immediately hang up if they receive this call. These calls are typically coming from outside the United States. By using voice over internet services, the scammers are able to send out thousands of calls a day and
can mask the number they are calling from to make it appear that they are calling locally or from another state. Do not call the number back and do not engage with the caller.
The IRS website provides information on IRS scams and outlines steps to take if a consumer has lost money in such a scam.
Again, if you receive this call, do not provide any information and do not send any money. Make note of the number, and any statements made by the caller, and file a complaint with the Vermont Attorney General’s Office Consumer Assistance Program. File a complaint online at www.uvm.edu/consumer or contact the Program at 800-649-2424.
If you sent money in response to this scam call, contact our Program immediately and we will try to assist you.
Source: Vermont Attorney General 8.9.2016