Carmen Million, with the Better Business Bureau is warning residents of a phone scam being used in the Lake Area.

The latest scam involves calling people and telling them they are going to be arrested unless they pay their taxes.

It's called 'spoofing' and here's the truth behind such phone calls.

 

If you get a phone call from someone who says they are from the IRS, be careful: it could be a scam. in fact, according to Carmen Million of the BBB, it's probably not even from the IRS!

Here's how the scam works:

Typically, a person will call, identifying themselves as an IRS agent. The caller will go on to tell you that you are about to be arrested if you don't pay your taxes immediately. The caller will then give you all the information to pay those taxes right then and there. If you fall for it and give them any information you'll end up losing a lot of money.

Million points out that the IRS doesn't call and threaten you with arrest or give you a chance to pay those taxes over the phone.

Keep in mind, thanks to technology, the words the letters, 'IRS' may even show up on your caller ID. It's all part of the scam.

According to the BBB press release:

"While this may sound silly, there are victims out there. Consumers are contacting the BBB scared that they will be arrested, even though they believe they do not owe taxes. Timing in a scam is everything. If the situation is right, anyone can be scammed,"

Million said the IRS is not going to call you, and they won't call and threaten to arrest you for owing taxes. They always send out written notices and do not ask for any personal information over the phone.

 

If you do owe taxes, or, if you've received one of these phone calls, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. If you feel you have been scammed, call the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 1-800-366-4484 to report the incident. You should also report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 877-382-4357.

More From 92.9 The Lake