By Matt Roy
Twitter: @AzNewsmedia

Officials from the Internal Revenue Service last week warned of a new phone scam related to taxes.

“In the latest twist on a scam related to Social Security numbers, scammers claim to be able to suspend or cancel the victim’s SSN. It’s yet another attempt by con artists to frighten people into returning ‘robocall’ voicemails,” the agency stated in an Oct. 24 post at its website, irs.gov.

They said the callers may mention overdue taxes or threaten to cancel a person’s social security number – these statements should be ignored.

“Scammers may mention overdue taxes in addition to threatening to cancel the person’s SSN. If taxpayers receive a call threatening to suspend their SSN for an unpaid tax bill, they should just hang up,” the agency stated.

According to IRS officials, the agency’s employees and contractors work within strict guidelines when interacting with the public.

They would never:

• Call and demand immediate payment through a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer – the agency does not use these payment methods.
• Ask a taxpayer to pay any person or group other than the U.S. Treasury.
• Threaten to immediately arrest a taxpayer through local police or law enforcement agencies.
• Demand tax payment without an opportunity for appeal or additional information.

If someone believes they have been the target of a phishing attempt or other scam, they may report the incident to the IRS by emailing phishing@irs.gov – be sure to include the caller ID and callback number and write “IRS Phone Scam” in the subject line.

Phishing scams are attempts to gather personal information to use in identity thefts and other crimes, according to the Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer watchdog.

“Scammers use email or text messages to trick you into giving them your personal information. They may try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could gain access to your email, bank, or other accounts,” the FTC states at its consumer information site, consumer.ftc.gov.

The phony phone calls and robocalls are just one of the many tools used in the pervasive effort.

Unsolicited emails and texts, telemarketers, robocalls, credit card offers, educational institutions, work-from-home opportunities, job offers, pyramid schemes, internet services, computer virus protection and online shopping are only a few of the angles nefarious phishers employ. 

According to an FTC report to Congress last year, while data may not support the popular notion that seniors are disproportionately contacted by scammers, older Americans are, however, often targeted for specific types of cons.

“… the FTC has seen schemes targeting Medicare recipients;8 a robocall interest rate reduction scheme touting a purported special government program for senior citizens; and advertising claims for brain training programs that allegedly combat cognitive impairment associated with aging.”

But while seniors may not necessarily receive more scam calls, they do appear to pay a larger cost, the agency stated: “… older adults report some of the highest dollar losses to certain types of fraud.”

The median loss from a phone scam in 2018 was $840, nearly twice that of other types of scams, according to the FTC report.

Senior advocacy group AARP warns scammers will seek out the most vulnerable people in the community.

“Phone fraudsters might also impersonate charity fundraisers or even your grandchildren, playing on your generosity or family bonds to get you to fork over money,” the group’s states at its site, aarp.org.

Among various warning signs, two main themes emerge: beware of unsolicited or automated calls; and if it sounds too good to be true, it most often is.

“Calls pitching products or services with terms that sound too good to be true. Common scam offers include free product trials, cash prizes, cheap travel packages, medical devices, preapproved loans, debt reduction, and low-risk, high-return investments,” the group stated.

Jay Lickus, president of AARP Chapter 1 in Youngtown, amplified that warning, pointing out how seemingly sophisticated some frauds have become.

“Scammers target the most vulnerable aspects of the senior’s lives including social security, investments, insurance, health and banking through phone, email and web platforms. They can be catastrophic to senior victims especially those on fixed incomes,” Mr. Lickus. “Unfortunately, the scammers are becoming more savvy and their scams more technical and more believable.”

He recommended AARP’s ElderWatch program, which provides resources and real-time advice to those at risk through their hotline: 1-800-222-4444, option 2.

Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich’s office, which also focuses on scams targeting seniors, provides a variety of resources and information, as well as links to scam alerts from other agencies.

The state’s top lawman published a comprehensive guide called the “Senior Tool Kit,” which addresses a variety of fraudulent schemes, including: telemarketing scams, lottery and sweepstakes scams, advance fee schemes, Nigerian letters, phishing, pyramid schemes, emergency call schemes, door-to-door scams, home repair schemes, fly for free scams, investment seminar scams and securities fraud, among many others.

Each of the scams is explained in detail along with tips on how to spot and prevent fraud.

The 40-page PDF document is free to download at azag.gov.