TOPEKA (KSNT) – Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt has put out a warning to Kansas residents to be wary of scams during the tax season.
According to Schmidt, the Consumer Protection Division was experiencing an increase in calls and emails from Kansans who are being targeted by scammers who are offering to help out by filing their tax returns. The scammers will often promise to expedite a taxpayer’s refund that is due back from the Internal Revenue Service or from the state government.
Schmidt also warned Kansans about the prevalence of identity theft. These thieves use the information they get to file a tax return and claim a fraudulent refund. Most people may not even be aware of the theft until they get a message from the IRS that more than one return was filed in their name or that there was a discrepancy in their filing. At that point, the tax refund is already in the possession of the scammer.
Another scam the Attorney General’s Office warned about is when someone impersonates the IRS. The scammer will claim that the victim owes taxes and demands that the citizen pay immediately over the phone, often with a gift card or pre-paid debit card. The scammer may even threaten to arrest the victim. The true IRS will never threaten to arrest individuals over the phone, according to Schmidt. His solution to this scam is simple: just hang up.
A scheme that bears resemblance to the IRS…
