BBB warns of IRS phone scams in SWMO

The Better Business Bureau of Southwest Missouri is warning area residents of an Internal Revenue Service phone scam the organization is calling an epidemic.

While not a new scam, the BBB says the tone of the calls has changed and it estimates hundreds of recent targets, according to a news release.

According to the BBB, the scammers say such things as, “We've reviewed your tax return, you owe money, you've got to pay up now,” and “if you don’t do this right now, you’ll be arrested.”

The IRS does not make phone calls about tax debt owed. Rather, they mail an official notice, the release said.

The BBB encourages households that receive these calls to hang up immediately and to contact the BBB or IRS directly about concerns.[[In-content Ad]]