It’s the scam that seemingly won’t go away, and now Wisconsin authorities are reporting the latest version of the I-R-S phone hoax is starting to go around the state. The updated scam is based on a change in procedure recently made by the I-R-S, which has now begun using four approved debt-collection companies to assist in collecting tax debts more than two years old. In this new variant, victims are called by someone posing as an officer of one of these approved I-R-S debt collection agencies, threatening a lawsuit or arrest if they don’t pay up immediately via prepaid debit card. Frank Frassetto, with the state department of consumer protection, says in what should be a tip that it’s a scam, the victim is warned not to contact their tax preparer, an attorney, or even the I-R-S, until the payment is made. Frassetto advises consumers that the I-R-S makes initial contact with taxpayers only via the U-S Postal Service. According to Frassetto, Wisconsin consumers need to remember that any threatening call demanding an immediate payment is a scam. If you get such a call, Frassetto says just hang up. But he also advises anyone who’s gotten such a call to write down the phone number of the caller, and report it, so the state’s consumer protection experts can help warn others.
