Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance warns Consumers of “ID Spoofing” Phone Scams
June 11, 2015
Nashville, TN – Your phone rings, you check the caller’s number and discover the number dialing your phone belongs to you.
This unusual scenario isn’t your phone’s fault. Instead, it’s a ploy known as ID Spoofing, and it’s a trick perpetrated by criminals using Caller ID cloaking technology to mask their real phone numbers.
After disguising their real numbers, scammers can cause a consumer’s own phone number (or the phone number of a loved one) to appear on your phone’s Caller ID. [Read more]
BBB lists 2014 Holiday Schemes You’s Better Watch Out For
December 2, 2014
Nashville, TN – You better watch out, we can tell you why.
Schemers and scammers are lurking about….ready to trick you with their schemes.
While Santa is making his list and checking it twice, BBB warns consumers to be on the look out for the following 2014 holiday schemes.
Gift Card Schemes – Purchasing gift cards is one of the easiest ways to show your loved ones how much you care during the holidays. It’s also one of the easiest ways scammers can steal gift money long before you ever spend it. [Read more]
Internal Revenue Service Repeats Warning about Phone Scams
August 15, 2014
Washington, D.C. – The Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration continue to hear from taxpayers who have received unsolicited calls from individuals demanding payment while fraudulently claiming to be from the IRS.
Based on the 90,000 complaints that TIGTA has received through its telephone hotline, to date, TIGTA has identified approximately 1,100 victims who have lost an estimated $5 million from these scams. [Read more]
Beware of Bogus IRS Emails
February 20, 2014
Washington, D.C. – The IRS gets thousands of reports every year from people who get emails that appear to be from the IRS. Scammers often use the IRS name or logo to make the message appear authentic hoping you’ll respond to it.
In reality, it’s a scam known as “phishing,” attempting to trick you into giving out your personal and financial information. The criminals then use this information to commit identity theft or steal your money. [Read more]
IRS Warns of Phone Scam
November 9, 2013
Washington, D.C. – The IRS is warning the public about a phone scam that targets people across the nation, including recent immigrants. Callers claiming to be from the IRS tell intended victims they owe taxes and must pay using a pre-paid debit card or wire transfer.
The scammers threaten those who refuse to pay with arrest, deportation or loss of a business or driver’s license.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHlxTX4rTRU[/youtube] [Read more]
IRS reports Three Tax Scams to Beware of this Summer
September 8, 2013
Washington, D.C. – Are you thinking about taxes while you’re enjoying the warm summer months? Not likely! But the IRS wants you to know that scammers ARE thinking about taxes and ways to dupe you out of your money.
Tax scams can happen anytime of the year, not just during tax season. Three common year-round scams are identity theft, phishing and return preparer fraud. These schemes are on the top of the IRS’s “Dirty Dozen” list of scams this year. They’re illegal and can lead to significant penalties and interest, even criminal prosecution.
Here’s more information about these scams that every taxpayer should know. [Read more]
IRS says Protect Yourself from the Dirty Dozen Tax Scams
March 31, 2013
Washington, D.C. – The IRS’s annual ‘Dirty Dozen’ list includes common tax scams that often peak during the tax filing season. The IRS recommends that taxpayers be aware so they can protect themselves against claims that sound too good to be true.
Taxpayers who buy into illegal tax scams can end up facing significant penalties and interest and even criminal prosecution. [Read more]
IRS Warns of Tax Season Scams
March 9, 2013
Nashville, TN – As part of National Consumer Protection Week, the Internal Revenue Service today reminded Tennessee taxpayers to be on the lookout for scammers posing as the IRS and scammers posing as tax preparers with special knowledge about getting IRS tax benefits.
“Tax scams come in many forms, but two of the most common involve fake IRS emails and dishonest people promising ‘free’ government money,” said IRS spokesman Dan Boone. [Read more]
Tennessee Consumer Affairs offers tips to avoid Timeshare Scams
June 15, 2012
Nashville, TN – Have you received an offer in the mail promising a cheap travel package for a hotel stay or a short cruise? To get the discounted package, all you have to do is attend a timeshare presentation. Once you show up to the presentation, you may get more than you bargained for: high-pressure sales tactics and scammers that don’t deliver what they promise.
Vacation timeshares give you the right to use a vacation home for a limited, planned period throughout the year. Consumers are usually contacted on the phone by a telemarketer or through the mail with a postcard asking them to call a toll-free number. [Read more]
Beware of Online Dating Scammers looking to swindle you out of Cash
February 8, 2012
Nashville, TN – Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and some consumers are banking on online dating as a way to hatch a serious relationship. Unfortunately, some fraud artists are also banking on online dating as a way to scam people out of their money.
Relationship scams, also known as sweetheart swindles, often follow this pattern:
You meet someone on a dating site and things get serious. You send messages, talk on the phone, trade pictures and maybe even make marriage plans. Soon you find out the person you met, who claimed to be an American professional, is going to Nigeria or another country for work. Once he or she is there, that person needs your help, asking you to wire money. [Read more]
