With Tax Season Underway, Consumers Warned of Growing Tax Season Scams

RED ROCK, Okla., March 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- With tax season underway, many taxpayers can be vulnerable to scams including conmen posing as agents of the Internal Revenue Service. The Otoe-Missouria's Consumer Finance Commission (CFC) is helping keep its customers safe with tips on how to identify tax-related scams during this time of year.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), complaints about IRS imposter scams have increased by nearly 50,000 complaints over the last year.

"Our goal is to help keep customers informed and safe from scams of every kind," says Eugene Big Soldier, Executive Director of the Otoe-Missouria Consumer Finance Commission. "There are some very simple ways that consumers can protect themselves and their families this season. It's important to stay informed and be vigilant to avoid becoming a victim of fraud. We believe that the more people know, the easier it will be to protect themselves."

One critical tip that consumers should keep in mind is that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will never require anyone to use a specific payment method for taxes or ask for debit or credit card numbers over the phone. If a consumer receives a suspicious phone call from someone demanding tax payments over the phone, it is likely an IRS imposter and should be reported to the FTC's Complaint Assistant, an online tool that allows consumers to report someone falsely claiming to be from the government.

"With tax-related scams becoming more widespread, consumers should specifically be on the lookout for IRS imposters and fraudsters," Big Soldier says. "These individuals tend to demand things that an IRS official would never request. It's the Commission's goal for all consumers and taxpayers to stay safe by noticing these red flags."

The Otoe-Missouria Consumer Finance Services Regulatory Commission charters, supervises and regulates Otoe-Missouria tribal and non-tribal individuals, firms, companies, associations and other businesses providing consumer financial services within Otoe-Missouria tribal territories and/or with Otoe-Missouria tribal members and/or chartered Otoe-Missouria corporations. For more information, go to omcfsrc.com.

CONTACT:
Heather Payne
Public Information Officer
(580) 723-4466 ext. 217
[email protected]

RELATED LINKS
http://www.omfsrc.com/
https://www.ftc.gov/
http://www.irs.gov/

SOURCE Otoe-Missouria Consumer Finance Services Regulatory Commission

Related Links

http://www.omcfsrc.com

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED