CONCORD, N.H. (Legal Newsline) — New Hampshire Attorney General Joseph A. Foster recently released a statement warning consumers about potential IRS scams happening over the phone throughout the state.
Since January, Foster’s office has received complaints from more than 1,200 consumers. In alleged scams, individuals will call consumers alleging to be from the IRS. They will demand payment for taxes allegedly past due. The caller usually asks for a payment via debit or credit card, and sometimes will even threaten consumers with arrest, wage garnishment, or other forms of legal process.
The IRS notes that it will almost always contact consumers first via mail. Additionally, it never asks for credit card, debit card or prepaid card information over the phone. Foster warns consumers to hang up immediately if called by one of these threatening and demanding individuals.
A second IRS-related scam can occur when an individual uses a stolen social security number to file a tax return. The consumer usually finds out when they go to file their return and then discovers that a fraudulent tax return has already been given to a thief in his or her name.