Missouri Warns of New Tax Scam

Many residents of Missouri have recently been contacted by people claiming to represent the state's Department of Revenue, promising large tax returns. However, the government agency is now warning that this was a scam intended to bilk consumers out of their credit card information.

As part of a growing trend of tax return fraud, a phishing scheme is now making the rounds in Missouri, telling targeted consumers that they have thousands of dollars worth of refunds coming their way if they turn over their credit card number, according to a report from Kansas City news station WDAF.

"People are preying on tax payers when they're vulnerable, and waiting on their refunds," J'Nan Kimak, an attorney with Humphrey, Farrington and McClain in Independence, Missouri, told the news station. "This is something that residents and tax payers in our community need to be aware of."

The state's department of revenue has set up a page on its website where consumers can alert it of similar calls, the report said.

Our March newsletter highlights the threat of tax-related identity theft , and it’s a timely examination since the federal government says it’s now the most frequently reported kind of identity theft. And of course, consumers should never provide unsolicited callers with credit card or personal information, regardless of who the caller claims to be, since no reputable organization conducts business this way.