Nassau County Clerk Maureen O’Connell is cautioning county residents about solicitations targeting local residents. The solicitations come in the form of a person or “robo-call” fraudulently claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). These impersonators often present themselves in a threatening manner and claim the taxpayer owes back taxes to the IRS and demand they send cash via prepaid debit cards, money orders, or wire transfers from their banks. The scammers threaten those who refuse to pay with being charged with a criminal violation, a grand jury indictment, immediate arrest, deportation, or loss of a business or driver’s license.
Concerned by these deceptive practices, O’Connell wants Nassau County residents to remember that the IRS generally first contacts people by mail about tax related issues and will not ask for bank information or credit card numbers over the phone. In cases where overdue taxes are owed and collection attempts fail, the IRS will file a Notice of Federal Tax Lien with the County Clerk. In an effort to better inform Nassau residents and protect them, O’Connell advises anyone who receives one of these calls to hang up immediately and contact the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at www.treasury.gov/tigta/ and use their “IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting” page or contact by phone at 1-800-366-4484. A report can also be filed with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by going to www.FTC.gov and using the “FTC Complaint Assistant” option.
O’Connell reminds residents to be wary of any person or “robo-call” who claims to be from a government agency and is demanding a cash payment or threatening court action. For additional questions or information, contact the clerk’s office at 516-571-2664.
