Residents warned of tax day scam

  As Tax Day for 2021 approaches, criminals will be trying to take advantage of taxpayers by impersonating Internal Revenue Service and Treasury employees. The phone fraud scam uses automated robocalls to contact victims. The criminals provide fake names, badge numbers and may even have basic information about the victim.

  Searcy County Sheriff Kenny Cassell reminds community members that the Internal Revenue Service will never call to demand immediate payment, nor will the IRS call about taxes owed without first corresponding by mail demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe; require you to use specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card; ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone; threaten to have members of the Searcy County Sheriff's Office or the Marshall Police Department come to your home and arrest you for not paying.

  If you do not owe taxes and receive a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS asking for money: do not give the caller any information and hang up immediately. Contact the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration www.treasury.gov/tigta/contact_report_scam.shtml) 800-829-1040

  Report it to the Federal Trade Commission at www.FTC.gov and report it to your local law enforcement agency.

  Additional information is available from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration public service video on YouTube.