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State spreads word about scam

LANSING — Michigan taxpayers with past-due tax debts should be aware of an aggressive scam making making the rounds through the U.S. Postal Service, according to the Michigan Department of Treasury.

In the scheme, taxpayers receive what appears to be a government-looking letter about an overdue tax bill, asking individuals to immediately contact a toll-free number to resolve a state tax debt. The letter aggressively threatens to seize a taxpayer’s assets, including property and Social Security benefits if the state tax debt is not settled.

The piece of correspondence appears credible to the taxpayer taxpayer because it uses specific personal facts about about their real outstanding tax debt that’s pulled directly from publicly available information. The scammer’s letter attempts to lure the taxpayer into a situation where they could make a payment to a criminal.

The state Treasury Department corresponds with taxpayers through official letters sent through the U.S. Postal Service, providing several options to resolve an outstanding debt and information outlining taxpayer rights.

Taxpayers who receive a letter from a scammer or have questions about their state debts should call Treasury’s Collections Service Center at 517-636-5265. A customer service representative can log the scam, verify outstanding state debts and provide flexible payment options.

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