Scam of the Week: Fake IRS calls continue to ring phones in Elkhart County

Remember — no government agency will ever cold-call you about something as serious as a delinquent tax bill, the Better Business Bureau says

The phone calls sound serious, warning of a deadline of only a handful of hours to resolve a delinquent tax bill.

However, Dreama Jensen of the Better Business Bureau of Northern Indiana says the voice on the other end of the line claiming to represent the IRS or even the FBI is actually a scammer. Their plan is to intimidate you into acting fast.

This scam has been in place for a while, and in some cases, the number will appear to be a Washington phone number — or possibly even your own name and number to make you curious enough to answer the call. The caller uses a common American name but almost always has a very thick accent.

The good news, Jensen told Truth Radio Tuesday morning, is that the scam has been well-publicized enough now that most are catching on and simply hanging up. But a few people could still fall for the scam.

Here’s our weekly chat with Dreama Jensen on Truth Radio 1340.

It is important to remember that no government agency will cold-call you by phone about something as serious as a delinquent tax bill. If you are pressured by phone, Jensen recommends insisting on written notification of the issue.

Truth Radio’s Scam of the Week segment is at 8:40 a.m. Tuesday from Dreama Jensen of the Better Business Bureau. You can contact the BBB at 574-675-9351.