IRS Phone Scam Targets College Students, Parents
DENVER (CBS4) - Students at Metro State University of Denver say getting fake calls from the IRS isn't uncommon.
Now, a nationwide phone scam is tricking students out of thousands of dollars. Authorities say crooks are demanding credit card information, and even gift cards.
Jessica Meredith, a senior at Metro State, is no stranger to fake phone calls.
"I hang up or I delete the voicemail," said Meredith of phone scams. "They just call saying that I owe money to the IRS. I've always paid my taxes and I'm up to date on that, so I just ignore them."
Over the years, Meredith has learned to ignore calls from strangers.
"I don't pick up if it's a number I don't recognize," Meredith said.
But across the country, a growing number of college students, and their parents, are finding themselves at the center of a phone scam.
Thieves, posing as IRS agents, are fooling students into paying thousands of dollars for a federal student tax that doesn't exist. Authorities say they're even threatening to arrest students who don't shell out.
Meredith says they're easy targets.
"I think that people who are out on their own for the first time, they're 18, and they just don't know any better," said Meredith. "I think that that would be a really important aspect to cover in freshman classes."
Cindy Hegl, Financial Aid Director at Metro State, says it's important for students and parents to know the IRS will never ask for payment or personal information over the phone.
Authorities say it's hard to track down such scammers because they typically demand money through untraceable operations.
Metro State says school payments should always be made online or in person.
Andrea Flores is a reporter for CBS4. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter @AndreaFloresTV.