LANSING, MI-- The Michigan Department of Treasury is asking residents to be ready for tax scams.
Officials say cyber criminals typically increase their activity in the first part of the year through phone scams and email phishing schemes. They try to obtain personal information so they can file income tax returns and claim refunds on behalf of unsuspecting residents. Some scammers may also allege a taxpayer owes taxes and aggressively demand payment for a quick payout.
Treasury officials say the department will never initiate a phone call or email to ask for personal information; call or email to demand immediate payment using a specific payment method; threaten to immediately bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have the taxpayer arrested for not paying; demand that taxes be paid without giving the taxpayer the opportunity to question or appeal the amount owed; or ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
