TAX COLLECTOR WON’T PHONE

The Minnesota Department of Revenue doesn’t make cold calls for tax payments. BUT someone masquerading as a DOR tax collector apparently is dialing numbers in the state.

The tax agency is warning that a phone scammer is calling people and demanding payment of money supposedly owed to the state. The caller also threatens to send police to the person’s home if he/she does not send money by credit card or money order during the call.

You easily can guess that the state doesn’t work that way. The con artist is prospecting for money and, probably, credit card numbers.

The DOR alert sent out an email alert this week about the latest scam. Here are some red flags that scammers are at work on the phone or in emails. The tax agency announced it will NOT:
•Call about an account balance due without first sending mail.
• Demand payments without first sending mail.
• Require payment information over the phone.
• Threaten to involve police in a collection.