PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR) has issued a consumer alert warning taxpayers to protect themselves from telephone scam artists who are calling and pretending to be with the department.
These callers may demand immediate payment or may say you have a refund due and try to trick you into sharing confidential information, such as your Social Security Number. These scam artists sound convincing, may know a lot about you and they usually alter the caller ID to make it look like an official government call. They use fake names and bogus telephone numbers. ADOR employees will always use a real name and contact number.
“It is unfortunate these telephone scams are being perpetrated on Arizona taxpayers and we urge people not to be deceived by these threatening phone calls,” ADOR Director David Briant said. “We have documented and well-publicized processes in place to help people with tax issues. ADOR respects the rights and confidentiality of taxpayers, and these fraudulent calls attempting to fleece taxpayers are unacceptable and not how we conduct business.”
ADOR will never:
• Call to demand immediate payment, nor will we call about taxes owed without first having mailed you an official demand notice.
• Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.
• Require you to use a specific payment method to pay your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card.
• Threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.
• Use unsolicited email, text messages or any social media to discuss your personal tax issue.
If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from ADOR and asking for money, here’s what you should do:
• If you know you owe taxes or think you might owe, call ADOR at 602-542-5551. ADOR staff will assist you with a payment issue.
• If you know you don’t owe taxes or have no reason to believe that you do, hang up immediately.
