COLUMBUS – A warning for Ohioans about a new IRS scam that has apparently not been as transparent to some as it sounds.
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine’s office is warning consumers to beware of callers claiming to represent the IRS, falsely suggesting the taxpayer is in trouble with the agency, and asking for payment via iTunes gift cards
DeWine’s office says 10 people in Ohio have reported losing between $1,000 and $11,500 to the ploy and hundreds of others reported receiving the scam calls.
In this latest twist to the IRS scam, the consumer is told to purchase iTunes gift cards, often worth $500 each, to resolve the supposed tax problem, and read the numbers on the back of the cards over the phone.
Using this information, scammers drain the cards’ funds, making it nearly impossible for the consumer to recover the money, DeWine’s office said.
DeWine and consumer protection experts advise taxpayers not to trust threatening callers and to avoid making payments over the phone. The real IRS won’t demand that you pay over the phone
IRS impersonation scams can be reported to the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Consumers also can contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.