Beware of tax season scammers
Local law enforcement warn residents of scams circulating in the Darlington County area. Read tips on how to tell if a telephone call is trying to trick you into sharing your financial information!
By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net
They say there are two things in life that are unavoidable: death and taxes. Another certainty is that every year around tax season, scam artists will emerge from the woodwork and try to finagle some quick cash for themselves by exploiting our fears, our hopes, and even our greed. But local law enforcement leaders say that the best way to protect yourself is by staying aware of trending scams and deploying a healthy amount of skepticism when dealing with strangers.
Darlington County Sheriff Wayne Byrd says the four most commonly reported scams in our area all center around intimidating someone into thinking they have an urgent unpaid bill – or a loved one in trouble – and you must give them your credit card or bank account information immediately to avert dire consequences.
1. The IRS Scam: A caller claims to be an agent of the Internal Revenue Service and tells the victim that they have an unpaid tax debt that must be settled immediately to avoid arrest.
2. The Power Company Scam: A caller insists that the victim’s electricity bill has not been paid and the bill must be settled right now or a service vehicle will shut off electric service.
3. The Unpaid Ticket Scam: A caller threatens the victim with immediate arrest unless they pay some fictitious outstanding traffic ticket or settle a penalty for failing to report to jury duty.
4. The Bail/Bond Scam: A caller informs the victim that their loved one has been arrested and has been trying to contact them, and now the bail-posting deadline is very near so only their bank account or credit card can save their son/daughter/mother-in-law from a night in jail.
“The thing to remember is that none of those companies or agencies do that kind of business over the telephone,” says Sheriff Byrd. “They’re certainly not going to call you up and say ‘send us some money or else!’”
Darlington Police Department Chief Danny Watson adds another scam to the list: the debt collection agency that insists it can send you to prison for non-payment.
“They call you up and say that unless you pay their bill, they’re going to have you arrested within the hour… but that’s not legal. That goes back to one of the reasons we founded this country in the first place, to get rid of debtor prisons,” Watson says. “If you don’t pay a bill, no one can put you in jail for it. They can’t arrest you, and they can’t threaten to arrest you.”
In fact, this scam is a violation of federal debt collection practices and a civil offense. Last week, after a Darlington citizen reported this harassment scam to the DPD, Chief Watson called the collection agency (multiple times) to dissuade them from trying it again. Their responses ranged from a quick disconnect to eternal hold music (presumably in the hopes that Watson would tire and hang up) to an indignant claim that their agency had done nothing wrong.
Watson says that anyone who receives a call purportedly from some agency or organization that tries to intimidate you into immediate payment, tell them not to call you again, take down their phone number and report the incident to law enforcement. Even if the caller can’t be tracked down, your report can be publicized and perhaps prevent someone else from falling prey to the con.
Though these threatening calls are scary enough, some scammers are bold enough to attempt a con face to face, walking right up to a home and asking for money to help a fictitious sick relative or to pay a pressing medical bill. Byrd and Watson both advise that in these situations, a surfeit of caution is necessary.
“If someone comes to your house and you are not expecting them or don’t know them, do not open the door,” says Watson, adding that you should inform this unwanted visitor that you have called law enforcement.
Both lawmen note that con artists have a tendency to prey on sympathy and turn your compassion into quick cash, but you shouldn’t feel guilty for turning away a stranger from your door since law enforcement agencies can access community resources to aid people with genuine troubles.
“In cases where that person has a legitimate need, there are organizations set up to help them… so if someone truly has a crisis like that, we can get them help,” says Byrd.
In some cases, the front porch visitor is merely giving cover to accomplices who exploit your distraction and comb over the property for items to steal. Calling 911 quickly and giving police an accurate description of the suspect and their vehicle can help with quick apprehension and might prevent them from victimizing your neighbors.
Though not directly related to the scam caller / scam visitor trend, the ATM skimmer con has also resurfaced locally after a Hartsville man noticed last weekend that the card reader on his bank ATM was suspiciously loose, and it detached when he gave it a tug. The incident was reported to Hartsville Police.
These card skimmers are typically placed over real card readers as an attempt to steal card information at cash machines, gas pumps, and checkout terminals. Police advise inspecting card readers to ensure they are legitimate before swiping your debit or credit card through. Also, get in the habit of shielding the keypad before entering your debit card PIN to protect that data from hidden cameras or prying eyes.
If you suspect tampering with a card reader, or if someone you know has been contacted by a suspected scam caller, report these incidents to your local law enforcement agency immediately. For yourself and your fellow citizens, forewarned is forearmed.