Listen the 1st Monday of each month at 11:10am to KFGO 790 AM or 94.1 FM for “Fargo’s Fraud Squad” – Fraud expert Phil Swan will warn you of the latest schemes and scams to watch out for!
IRS Scam
This is a popular time of year for the dreaded “IRS Scam” to begin again.
This is a targeted phone scam where the scammer claims to be an IRS employee claiming that the victim owes the IRS money and needs to make immediate payment. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) reports they have become aware of over 10,000 victims who have collectively paid over $54 million as a result of phone scams since October 2013.
CLICK HERE
for more information from the IRS,
CLICK HERE
to report a scam!
What to look for on this scam-
Calling to demand immediate payment (The IRS doesn’t initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text messages or social media channels to request personal or financial information.)
Demanding that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal what they say you owe.
Are they asking that you send money in money orders or prepaid gift cards (including itunes cards)
Asking for credit card information over the phone.
Threaten to have you arrested
In many cases the callers will become hostile and insulting.
Often times the scammer has altered the phone number to appear that the call is coming from the IRS.
What to do-
SLOW DOWN- there is nothing that needs to be done that second.
Independently verify that you do or don’t owe taxes by calling the IRS at 1800-829- 1040
If you believe the phone call is a scam contact the Treasury Inspector General for Tax administration at 1800-829- 1040 or
www.tigta.gov.
Tax Preparation Fraud
Did you know that when you hire someone to prepare your annual taxes, their liability ends when you sign the form and it is submitted to the IRS?
(Yep, you read that right!)
For example, check out all the line items and make sure there are not inflated deductions. Did they add another dependent? Is this the real amount of money you gave to charity? Are these deductions allowed?
Keeping yourself safe by taking responsibility when filing taxes. Don’t just sign, read the line!
(Fraud expert Phil Swan in the KFGO studios)
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Fargo’s Fraud Squad: Repackaging Scams
Fargo Fraud Squad: The Romance Scam
Fargo Fraud Squad: The Grandparent Scam
Fargo Fraud Squad: Craigslist/Secondary Market Scam
Fargo Fraud Squad: Counterfeit Money
Fargo Fraud Squad: What to do if you are the victim of a scam
Fargo Fraud Squad: The Kidnapping Scam
(Amy Iler & JJ Gordon are talk-show hosts at 790 AM KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. “It Takes 2 with Amy & JJ” can be heard weekdays 11am-2pm. Check out the show page on
FACEBOOK.
Follow Amy on Twitter
@AmyKFGO
. Follow JJ on Twitter
@JJGodon701
.)
