St. Joseph Public Safety Warns About Tax Scam

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The St. Joseph Department of Public Safety is warning residents about a tax scam. The department this week received a complaint from a resident who got a call from someone using the name Michael Sinclair, claiming to be an IRS agent. The suspect told the would-be victim that they owed money to the agency, and instructed them to wire a large amount to several locations out of state.

St. Joseph Public Safety reminds everyone that the IRS does not contact taxpayers about money owed in this manner. It also never demands immediate payment over the phone or through money order. Police say anyone who gets such a call should be sure not to provide any personal information to the caller, and to report the incident to law enforcement.

The scam reported this week to St. Joseph Public Safety is similar to another scam reported earlier in the week in Van Buren County. Also this week, the Michigan Department of Treasury warned taxpayers not to fall for someone demanding money over the phone while claiming to represent a state agency.