CHARLESTON, W.Va. — As late as this week, just days before the April 18 filing deadline, scammers continue to target West Virginians claiming tax return issues.
West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said early in the year complaints increased of posers pretending to be tax officials looking for bank routing numbers, account information and social security information.
According to the Internal Revenue Service, the 2016 tax season started with a 400 percent increase in phishing and malware incidents.
Typically, Morrisey said crooks call from a line that shows up on Caller ID as the victim’s number or an out-of-state number. Bully tactics lead victims to believe there is an immediate need for payment or an arrest is possible. Victims can be threatened with jail or lawsuits.
The IRS reminds consumers the agency will never:
– call and demand immediate payment – without contacting you by mail first
-demand that you pay without giving you a chance to appeal the amount you owe
-require specific method of payment like a debit card
-ask for credit card numbers over the phone
-threaten to bring police for arrests
The state Attorney General’s Office Consumer Protection Division will take reports and complaints of scammers at 1-800-368-8808