HOOSIERS URGED TO FILE TAXES

Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller is urging Hoosiers to file their taxes as soon as possible this year to avoid fraud.

Tax-related scams are growing in popularity, with fraudsters taking advantage of complicated tax processes and using fear tactics to victimize well-intentioned taxpayers.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has designating this week as Tax Identity Theft Awareness week. Tax identity theft occurs when a criminal uses a legitimate taxpayer’s Social Security number to file a tax return.

Zoeller recommends that all Hoosiers file their taxes as soon as they receive all of their forms, and reminds people to be wary when asked to give out their Social Security number.

The Indiana Attorney General’s Office received 425 complaints about tax identity theft in 2015.

Zoeller said another serious threat during tax season is the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) impersonation scam, where callers claiming to be with the IRS and demand immediate payment of past-due taxes. Scammers might threaten arrest and jail time if the payment is not received immediately, and usually request that the money be paid back though the purchase of pre-paid cards, such as GreenDot or ReloadIt.

The IRS impersonation scam targeted more Indiana residents in 2015 than any other scam reported to the Attorney General’s Office, with about 1,800 complaints filed and victims losing a total of $65,000 to these fraudsters.

Consumers who receive a call like this should hang up immediately. The IRS will never initiate contact over the phone. They will always reach out first through official correspondence by mail. Additionally, the IRS will never ask for credit card, debit card or prepaid card information over the phone.

If you think you’ve been targeted by the IRS impersonation scam, call the IRS at 1-800-908-4490 to confirm the call you received was fraudulent. You should also report the scam to the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration here.

The Indiana Department of Revenue says scammers may attempt to impersonate their agency or others like it, as well.

Consumers who are targeted in any of these tax-related or other scams can file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office by visiting www.IndianaConsumer.com or calling 1.800.382.5516.