Tax time also means scam time

Officials: Don’t give financial information over phone

By JOHN MOLSEED, Messenger staff writer
There’s no good news that some crooks won’t find a way to spoil. As the U.S. Department of the Treasury announces that every taxpayer is getting a check as part of an economic stimulus package, consumer advocates are expecting some to take advantage of the windfall.

Every year, scammers use tax time to go ‘‘phishing’’ for people’s bank account numbers and Social Security numbers. Scammers may send e-mails or make phone calls claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service and promising a quick refund. Their goal is to get bank account information or Social Security numbers. News of the stimulus checks will be no different, advocates say.

‘‘We can absolutely count on scams like that,’’ said Bob Brammer, spokesman for the Iowa Attorney General’s office.

‘‘The reason we expect it for sure is because we always have IRS scams,’’ he said.

Brammer said don’t let an IRS.gov e-mail address or a Department of the Treasury logo fool you — that’s not how the government operates.

‘‘They can sometimes look very official,’’ he said, adding that others are easy to spot.

However, if the IRS or Treasury claim to contact you without you contacting them first, it’s almost certainly a fake.

‘‘That isn’t the way the Department of Treasury or the IRS work,’’ Brammer said.

Acting Fort Dodge Police Chief Doug Utley advised not to give personal and financial information over the phone if you receive a call claiming to be from a government agency.

‘‘If people get calls like that, they’re phony,’’ he said.

A recent scam was reported after a person was called by someone claiming to be with the Social Security Administration. While the scammer was able to access a victim’s account briefly, the situation was spotted, the money returned and the person’s account closed, said Pam Wilson, first teller of the United Bank of Iowa.

Wilson advises people to check their accounts regularly.

‘‘With electronic banking, it’s real easy to monitor bank accounts,’’ she said.

Brammer agreed with the advice, adding that common sense and a bit of vigilance is the best — and often only — protection.

Many scammers work overseas, making it difficult for local law enforcement to catch them.

‘‘It’s virtually impossible to work backwards and catch these people,’’ he said.

Brammer asks anyone who has been targeted by e-mail or phone scams to contact the Consumer Protection Division of the Iowa Attorney General’s office. The division can be reached toll-free at (888) 777-4590.



Contact John Molseed at (515) 573-2141 or jmolseed@messengernews.net