Phone scammers posing as state Department of Revenue employees are targeting senior citizens and people with disabilities in an effort to obtain people’s bank information, according to the state agency.
The phone scammers are falsely telling residents they will deposit their property tax or rent rebate checks into their bank accounts, the agency said.
The Department of Revenue does not make live calls regarding property tax or rent rebate applications and they do not collect banking deposit information over the phone, according to a statement issued by state Rep. Bob Brooks, R-Murrysville, and information on the Department of Revenue’s website.
If the state needs more information about an individual’s application, it sends a letter through the mail and does not make phone calls, according to the Department of Revenue’s website.
“Do not give out personal information over the phone to unsolicited callers, even if the caller claims to be from the Department of Revenue, the IRS or your bank,” the agency said.
Additionally, residents should not trust the phone number seen on caller ID, even if it appears to be coming from the Department of Revenue or the IRS as it could be a scam.
If you received one of these calls and provided your banking information or other personal information, immediately call your bank to make them aware of this potential fraud.
Additionally, you can file a scam complaint with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General Bureau of Consumer Protection by calling the toll-free hotline at 1-800-441-2555.
Last year, nearly 572,000 people received more than $253 million through the state’s property tax and rent rebate program.
