A tax scam has targeted one Acadiana resident where the scammers are demanding thousands of dollars.
One resident was almost a victim. This phone call scam targeted one woman in Rayne. The scammer wanted thousands of dollars or threatened to have law enforcement arrest her.
“She was crying so much to where I couldn’t understand nothing she was saying. I had to calm her down.”
Paul Couvillion said his wife was so distraught when she answered what turned out to be a scam phone call.
The scammer claimed she owed thousands of dollars in tax money. The number the scammer calls from is 512-333-7425.
News 10 asked, “It’s always the same number that keeps calling?
Couvillion added, “Right. It’s always The same number that they called from. they called five or six times from the same number.”
News 10 asked, “They were asking your wife to send money to them?”
“Right. They wanted her to send some money by a card and if she didn’t send it they were going to come pick her up put her in jail,” explained Couvillion.
Both Couvillion and his wife now have this advice for other residents these scammers might target:
“Do not give them no kind of information no Social Security number no nothing because it’s they’re going to use that to get money from you.”
Here are some suggestions on how to avoid this phone call tax scam:
Generally, the IRS will first mail you a bill if you owe any taxes.
The IRS will not threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.
The IRS won’t ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
The IRS is aware of this scam, and says they will not demand payment without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.
If you have a scam you’d like me to investigate, feel free to send me an email at smasters@klfy.com.
