Farmington Woman Reports Scam Attorney General Says Is On Rise

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A Farmington woman told police that she’s out $9,000 after falling for a scam in which a caller claiming to be an agent with the Internal Revenue Service said she owed back taxes and would be arrested if she didn’t pay up.

She’s not alone.

In a statement Wednesday, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette warned of an uptick in scams in which callers impersonate government entities to obtain sensitive personal or financial information from consumers.

As directed, the victim withdrew money from her bank account and sent a MoneyGram to out-of-state address provided, according to a report on Hometownlife.com. She told police the bogus government agent called her several more times, each time demanding more money.

Farmington Public Safety Director Frank Demers reminded residents the “IRS would never demand payment of delinquent taxes via MoneyGram or any other type of pre-paid debit card.”

Demers said elderly residents, immigrants and refugees may be particularly vulnerable to the scams.

Schuette said impersonators claim to be with the U.S. Department of Treasury and Michigan Department of Treasury.

Recent telemarketing scam complaints filed by Michigan consumers include a request for bank account or credit card information from an individual claiming to be with the U.S. Department of Treasury. In exchange for the consumer’s personal financial information, the caller offered a $7,000 grant.

Past scams in Michigan have included requests for Social Security numbers, home addresses or insurance information.

Scammers also use the following ruses, claiming they are calling to:

• Conduct a survey on your satisfaction after purchasing or receiving a government service;
• Protect the call recipient from becoming the victim of fraud;
• Offer a shopping spree or valuable gasoline coupons in return for a minimal processing charge to be debited directly from your bank account or prepaid credit card;
• Qualify for a new government program or to continue in a current government program like Medicare or Social Security;
• Offer a prize or become eligible for a pre-approved credit card, loan, or government grant;
• Dispute the victim’s failure to report for jury duty, the consequence of which is being arrested;
• Qualify for discount programs;
• Promote a program or charity tied to recent news events or tragedies;
• Pay to help a loved one in a medical or legal emergency;
• Pay off a (bogus) past due payday loan debt, or face threatened legal action;
• Obtain an auto warranty or lower credit card interest rates.

Resources

The full attorney general’s consumer alert entitled Telemarketing Fraud - Never Give Personal Information to Unknown Callers is available online.

For general consumer protection questions or to file a complaint, call the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Team at (517) 373-1140 or toll free at (877) 765-8388.

Consumers may also file an online complaint.