FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) – Attorney General Andy Beshear issued a scam alert Thursday to help Kentucky families avoid falling victim to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) scams.
Beshear said his office issued a scam alert after receiving multiple IRS scam reports from Kentuckians in Murray and Calloway County over the past 24 hours.
Local residents report receiving a call from a New York phone number, where the caller claims to be an IRS agent and demands immediate payment over the phone. If the victim refuses, the scam caller threatens that law enforcement will be contacting them for possible prosecution, arrest or deportation.
“The IRS will never call and demand immediate payment over the phone,” Beshear said. “If you are contacted by someone claiming to be an IRS agent and threatening arrest, hang-up and report it to the actual IRS.”
Reports are currently coming in from Western Kentucky, but all Kentuckians can avoid falling victim to the scam if they remember these tips.
The IRS will never:
- Call you if you owe taxes without first sending you a bill in the mail.
- Require that you pay your taxes only by credit card or prepaid debit card.
- Ask for your credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
- Threaten to bring in police or other agencies to arrest you for not paying.
- Email asking for personal information.
The IRS website also provides a list of current scams that are targeting taxpayers.
One of the critical missions of the Office of the Attorney General is to help Kentucky families and seniors recognize and avoid scams.
Kentuckians interested in staying ahead of scammers can sign up to receive Scam Alerts from Beshear’s office by texting the words KYOAG Scam to GOV311 (468311), or visit ag.ky.gov/scams to sign up with your mobile phone number or email address.
To report scams to the Office of the Attorney General call 888-432-9257 or file a consumer complaint online.