Tax Scams Will Abound This Year, Shaker Heights Police Warn

SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH — The changes in the tax law could prompt more scammers to target residents, the Shaker Heights Police Department said on social media. Police want people to take some commonsense steps to protect themselves and their personal information in 2018.

"Don't allow criminals to take advantage of you with their same old tactics. Be aware of the following behavior that has occurred in our city before," the department said on Facebook.

One of the most common scams targeting residents was this: a person claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) calls and demands immediate payment for a tax issue. The caller will want issue paid for in a specific way, like a prepaid debit card, a gift card or wire transfer.

Generally speaking, the IRS will mail someone about an issue before calling. They will never start a conversation with a taxpayer by email, social media or text message. They will not ask for someone to pay for an outstanding tax issue using a gift card.

Shaker Heights Police said other signs of a scam include:

• Someone threatens to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying taxes.
• Someone demands payment without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.
• Someone will ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.

If you're worried you may have been ensnared in a scam, or someone you care about has been caught in a scam, contact Shaker Heights Police or the IRS. The IRS can be reached at this link.

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