People from all over the country are falling victim to a phone scam by scammers pretending to be IRS agents.

Jessie Schmidt of the Better Business Bureau in Sioux Falls says the IRS impersonators are calling up their targets, and demanding that they pay taxes they don't owe, by either loading money on a prepaid card or sending it via a wire transfer.  Schmidt says those who refuse immediately are then threatened by the IRS imposters. The threats include jail time, deportation, or the suspension of the victim's business or driver's license.

If you get one of these calls, Schmidt offers this advice:

Beware of any caller claiming to be from the IRS and demanding money.  Schmidt says the IRS announced that it would never ask for payments by wire transfer or a prepaid card and it will alert taxpayers of unpaid taxes via the mail, not a phone call.

Never trust callers who use threats and hostility to bully their targets into doing what they want.

For more information on the IRS phone scam, Jessie Schmidt suggests you visit this website: www.bbb.org or call the Sioux Falls Better Business Bureau at 605 271 2066.

 

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