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Tax scammers out to victimize innocent residents

The scammers are at it again, this time using the U.S Mail to bilk unsuspecting people over past-due tax bills.

According to the Michigan Department of Treasury, the scam goes like this: an official letter arrives asking the recipient to immediately contact a toll-free number to resolve their outstanding state tax debt. The letter threatened to seize the taxpayer’s assets — including property, bank accounts and income — if the state tax debt wasn’t settled.

The piece of correspondence, according to a state press release, appeared credible to the taxpayer because it used specific personal facts about their real outstanding tax debt that was pulled directly from publicly available information. The scammer’s letter attempted to lure the taxpayer into a situation where they could make a payment to a criminal.

“Please don’t fall victim to this terrible scam,” State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks said. “Taxpayers have rights. If you have questions about an outstanding state tax debt, please contact us through a verified number so we can talk about options.”

Anyone who receives a letter from a scammer or have questions about their state debts can 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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