IRS Warns About Fake 'Amended Tax Return' Scams Against Elderly
ERIE, Pa. (CBS) - The Internal Revenue Service is issuing a warning about a tax scam aimed at senior citizens.
IRS spokesman David Stewart says scam artists operating in the southeastern part of the US recently struck in northwestern Pennsylvania, and are believed to be on the move again -- possibly headed this way.
Stewart says the bogus accountants offer to set up operations in churches or senior centers, and come equipped with official IRS forms, posters and signs, and even their own business cards.
He says the scammers offer to help people take advantage of missed tax rebates for Social Security.
"They're basically saying they missed out on something, that there was something in the tax law -- because there's been a lot of news about taxes," Stewart explains.
But he says there is no rebate, and the flim-flam artists -- after asking a small fee for simply filing the amended tax return -- are long gone by the time seniors figure out they've been taken.
If these scam artists come to your town, Stewart urges you to contact local law enforcement immediately or the IRS.
Reported by Mark Abrams, KYW Newsradio 1060
