IRS Scam Bilks Coloradans Out Of Hundreds Of Thousands
DENVER (CBS4) - As tax season arrives, federal authorities are warning of phone scams in which callers impersonate IRS agents.
CBS4 investigator Rick Sallinger received one such call.
"My name is Devon Layton, I am calling about an enforcement action executed by the U.S. Treasury intending your serious attention."
The voice claimed Sallinger owed money and could face arrest. This is one of a million such phony IRS calls reported.
"Are you really the IRS? How do I know this isn't a scam," Sallinger asked. The woman on the other end replied, "Sir I won't be able to help you."
The scam calls are even going to homes of real IRS officials.
"I received a few myself. I just hang up on them and tell them it's not legitimate," said Stephen Boyd, the Special Agent in charge of the Denver IRS Criminal Division.
The callers often won't take no for an answer.
"Are you part of the federal government?" Sallinger asked.
"Yes, we are calling from taxes and audit, my name is Susan Smith," came the heavily accented reply.
Many of the calls originate overseas but may appear as a U.S. number.
At a news conference Friday, federal authorities said there have been 111 victims in Colorado, bilked out of $632,000.
"It may be unrealistic to think we may stop any of these scammers just by simply investigating and arresting them. I think it's much more powerful to educate," said Preston Cordale Lamb of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration said,
Public service announcements warn that the imposters often demand immediate payment and threaten arrest or deportation.
"You are not going to get a call from the IRS threatening to indict you unless you pay," said U.S. Attorney for Colorado John Walsh.
He warns consumers to not give out information.
If you'd like to report an IRS phone scam you can do so here.
CBS4's Rick Sallinger is a Peabody award winning reporter who has been with the station more than two decades doing hard news and investigative reporting. Follow him on Twitter @ricksallinger.
