LEE COUNTY, Fla. -- The tax deadline is now less than two weeks away, and it appears thieves are ramping up their efforts to scam you in Lee County.
Miriam Dotson with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office joins us now to explain.
Statistics on IRS scams in Lee County:
Just last week, LSCO took in at least 30 reports of IRS scam calls.
They say they are are seeing reports of phone calls than anything.
In many cases, the imposter will threaten a caller, saying they owe money and will have law enforcement come get them.
They say this isn’t a new trend either. Last year LSCO says they had 901 scam reports, their second-highest total for 2017.
However, scammers aren’t just trying to get you to hand over/wire money, deputies say as some try to file this month, they’ll find someone else already has using your information.
What to do:
This year there’s an easier way to file a tax identity theft report. In a project between the FTC and the IRS, you can file a identity theft report online using the FTC’s IdentityTheft.gov website.
You have to file IRS form 14039 in the process.
Once you have filed it, someone will get back to you in about 30 days.
The website is also designed to help you get started with a recovery plan and guidance on how to place a fraud alert on your credit files.
The real IRS:
If the IRS does want to contact you, they will only do so by mail, never by phone, text, or e-mail.
If you do owe- or think you might- or want to check it out.. call the IRS.
If you have any concerns, you can call the Lee County fraud line at 239-258-3292.
