Have you gotten a call or voicemail from someone who claims to be an IRS representative recently? These calls will likely come from a variety of area codes outside the Kansas City area, and may request personal information or a payment. Some recent messages across our region suggest a tax violation, litigation or similar claim to persuade action from you.
What you need to know, is the IRS “does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text messages or social media channels to request personal or financial information. This includes requests for PIN numbers, passwords or similar access information for credit cards, banks or other financial accounts.”
It’s important to not engage in conversation with these callers or via email (don’t click links). The link above highlights some common scams, and also includes information about how you can protect yourself and report these violations. Of course, we’re also available to answer questions you may have. If you receive a suspicious call or email and aren’t sure what to do, don’t do anything.
If you have answered a call, you can simply hang up or take down the caller’s name and number, then call us at (913) 888-9100. We can help determine if any action is necessary or if this was a scam attempt. It’s always better to err on the side of caution and withhold information until you have vetted the situation to protect your personal information, finances and identity.
Richard Adams is a graduate of Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, with dual majors in Accounting and Business Administration. He is also a graduate of Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri.