Share Alert - Scam *** Recently, Calvert County Government and the Sheriff's Office have received
***Share Alert – Scam ***
Recently, Calvert County Government and the Sheriff’s Office have received several complaints regarding letters residents are receiving from the “Seizure Unit” for nonpayment of taxes to the “Federal Tax Authorities.” The letter proclaims the Calvert County Internal Processing Service is seeking payment for debt. This is a scam and fraud. Do not fall for it or call the number listed in the letter.
Neither the IRS nor the Calvert County Treasurer’s Office will EVER demand immediate payment. The IRS does not issue arrest warrants for this type of matter or threaten taxpayers with the seizure of assets unless there have been ongoing negotiations with your local IRS Office. A real letter from the IRS will have a few distinguishing markers, such as an official IRS seal, a notice or letter number in the top right corner of the paper, information about your rights as a taxpayer and a phone number to contact the IRS directly.
This scheme involves the mailing of a letter threatening an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) lien or levy. The lien or levy is based on bogus delinquent taxes owed to a non-existent agency, the “Tax Processing Unit.” The lien notification scam is to confuse potential victims into thinking the letter is from a legitimate organization.
Scams take many shapes and forms, such as phone calls, letters and emails. Many IRS impersonators use threats to intimidate and bully people into paying a fabricated tax bill. They may even threaten to arrest if the victim doesn’t comply.
For more information, visit the “Tax Scams and Consumer Alerts” page on IRS.gov. You should always report IRS-related phishing attempts and fraud to the Treasury Inspector General at 800-366-4484 or phishing@irs.gov.
