Unfortunately, scams are part of today’s digital landscape. The City of Greenville’s IT Department monitors these threats and provides tips to employees. Because anyone can fall victim to scams, the City is sharing this information.
As Tax Day draws near, be aware of scammers searching for unsuspecting victims. Here’s how they may do it:
You may receive an unexpected phone call from someone claiming to be an agent with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), saying you owe additional taxes. The “agent” may even provide what sounds like a real government badge number. This sounds serious. To make matters worse, they may threaten fines or arrest if you don’t immediately pay what you owe.
Don’t be fooled. This “tax agent” is actually a cybercriminal, and the debt you supposedly owe isn’t real. They will try to pressure you into paying them, usually by wire transfer or a prepaid debit card, but any money you send goes straight into the cybercriminal’s pockets.
Follow these tips to protect yourself from tax scams:
- Check the mail first: If there is an issue with your taxes, the IRS will usually contact you by mail first. They will not call and threaten arrest.
- Immediate payments are a scam: If you do owe money to the IRS, the agency will never demand immediate payment using prepaid debit cards or wire transfers. Scammers often request these methods because they are harder to trace.
- Don’t panic: Cybercriminals try to scare you because people are more likely to act impulsively when they’re afraid. Stop and think before taking action.