Scammers are using the phone number of the Department of Treasury’s field office in Grand Rapids to scam people, the Eaton County Sheriff’s Office reports.
The criminals are using the phone number, 616-356-0300 to call taxpayers claiming to be a treasury employee. The potential victims are told they owe money to the Department of Treasury and it must be paid promptly through a pre-loaded debit card or wire transfer, states the sheriff’s office.
If the victim refuses to make a payment, they are threatened with arrest, legal action or suspension of a business. The sheriff’s office states they confirmed a few taxpayers who have called do not have outstanding taxes or debts owed to the state of Michigan.
The Eaton County Sheriff’s Office says the Department of Treasury will not:
• Demand immediate payment without first mailing you a letter
• Require that you pay your taxes a certain way (for instance require that you pay over the phone with a prepaid debit card)
• Threaten to call the police or other law enforcement agencies to arrest you for not paying
• Ask for PINs, passwords or similar confidential access information for credit card, bank or other financial accounts.
