AUGUSTA, Maine — The state attorney general’s office is warning the public of IRS scams after seeing a recent increase in fake phone calls, the AG’s office announced Wednesday.
Approximately 250 people called the AG’s Consumer Protection Division regarding the scams in August, in which someone masquerading as an IRS agent calls demanding to collect a debt owed to the service.
“The IRS scam and others like it are consistently the top complaint we receive,” said Attorney General Janet Mills. “However, we have noticed a recent spike in the number of people calling our office to alert us and to complain specifically about IRS scams. These are often randomly dialed calls, but for some reason the 207 area code seems to be their target in recent days. People should not engage the callers and hang up the phone. Do not give them personal information and do not wire them money.”
Scammers pose as IRS officials and call victims and claim that the victims owed taxes.
The callers would then threaten to arrest, deport, revoke the license or shut down the business of victims who don’t pay right away. Scammers can also rig caller IDs to make victims believe the calls are coming from Washington.
Scammers then instruct victims to put money on a prepaid debit card and tell them the number, which no government agency would ask a citizen to do. Once that occurs, the scammers may call back and demand more payments until the victim finds out it is a scam.
“If you receive one of these calls, do not answer any of their questions. Hang up the phone immediately,” Mills said.
Those with questions should call the AG’s office at 1-800-436-2131 or email consumer.meditation@maine.gov.
