Don't Get Scammed During Tax Season, Tips From Avon Lake Police

AVON LAKE, OH — Tax season is a busy time for most Americans. It's also a busy time for scam artists looking to rip off everyday Americans. That's why the Avon Lake Police Department and the IRS have compiled a list of easy-to-follow tips that could protect someone from tax scams.

The first and most important tip is this: "IRS does NOT demand immediate payment through gift cards/wire transfers or threaten to bring in local police, immigration officers or other law-enforcement to have you arrested," the Avon Lake Police Department said on Facebook.

That means anyone threatening a resident with arrest, or asking for payment through an unusual method, is not the IRS. It may seem simple but many people have been ensnared by this type of ploy.

Another seemingly commonsense tip: don't give out personal information over the phone or to unverified people. Also, the IRS will not contact people through email so there is no need to respond to those messages, the Avon Lake Police said.

One of the new scams that's being used to steal money from people is a bit more complicated. First, a thief will steal someone's personal information and file a fraudulent tax return in their name. However, the thief will have the money deposited into the person's actual bank account.

The thief will then pose as an IRS representative and use various tactics to get the refund back from the taxpayer. The IRS issued an alert on that new type of scam on Feb. 2.

The IRS released a detailed, point-by-point breakdown of how to actually return these fraudulent tax refunds. That list can be found by clicking here.

There are even ploys to scam tax professionals and human resources managers into giving out personal information. Many of the criminals perpetrating those ploys are considered sophisticated and work as part of a syndicate, the IRS said.

Learn more about scams targeting both tax professionals and everyday citizens by clicking here.

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