By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
More and more scams are popping up, especially with tax season in full swing and more coronavirus relief money being discussed in Washington.
Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Puett urges residents to be cautious when answering the phone, especially when the person on the other end states they are calling from the IRS, the Social Security Administration, or even the Federal Reserve.
“They do not call people,” Puett says. “They do not solicit money over the phone. They do not want your Social Security number. They have it. Do not, do not, do not give anybody your personal information over the phone. Do not give them your credit card, your PIN code, any of that stuff.”
Puett also cautions to be careful about clicking on any links on the Internet or in emails. He says if you want to check to see if the call is legitimate, look up a number and call back.
Puett says cons seem to prey on the most conscientious among us.
“We have people that fall victim to this, because they’re trying to do the right thing and these scammers, these criminals are very good at scaring people and that’s what they rely on: fear and intimidation,” according to Puett.
Tax season always brings out the scam artists.
Puett advises a simple approach to any such calls, pointing out the IRS has your information. It never solicits personal information over the phone. Don’t buy the line they’re selling over the phone, Puett advises.
“Please do not provide any personal information like that over the phone,” Puett says. “The best way to do it is, ‘I’m with the IRS’ click, just hang up.”
Puett says it will only get worse. With Congress poised to pass a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, residents are sure to get calls from scam artists trying to steal personal information, claiming it’s needed to get stimulus checks.