Scammers Manipulate Caller ID, Pose as NYS Tax Collectors: New Warning

New York State Department of Taxation and Finance officials alerted taxpayers Wednesday to the latest tactics being used by con artists.

Scammers are cloning the Tax Department’s fraud hotline phone numbers so they appear on a taxpayer’s caller ID, giving the impression that these bogus calls are legitimate ones from the agency, officials said.

If either of the following Tax Department numbers appear on a caller ID system, it’s an immediate signal that the caller is a scam artist: 518-457-5181 or 518-457-0578.

Why? Because those phone numbers are for taxpayers making incoming calls to the Tax Department. The Tax Department doesn’t use those numbers for outgoing calls.

There are other clues that you're being targeted by a crook on the phone.

“Many of the impostors who call demand payments on iTunes gift cards and other reloadable debit cards, which are obvious red flags," New York State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Jerry Boone said in the announcement. "I urge every New Yorker to remain vigilant for signs that a call could be a scam.”

RELATED: IRS Scammers Are Targeting Clarkstown Again

If you’re unsure a caller claiming to be from the state Tax Department is legitimate, contact the Tax Department call center at (518) 457-5434. A live representative will be able to verify any tax issues that you may have.

You can also protect yourself from con artists by creating an Online Services (OLS) account directly with the Tax Department at www.tax.ny.gov. This will allow you to confirm any outstanding tax liabilities and manage your tax matters securely online. If a caller is telling you something that doesn’t match up with your OLS account, this could be a warning sign.

If you believe that you’ve been contacted by someone attempting a scam, or you or a client have been the victim of fraud or identity theft, visit the Tax Department’s Report fraud, scams and identity theft webpage to learn how to report it. The Tax Department takes this type of illegal activity seriously, promptly reviews each complaint, and takes corrective action when appropriate.