Comptroller Franchot Warns Citizens to Be Wary of Phone Scams

BALTIMORE, Md. (WJZ)-- Comptroller Peter Franchot warns citizens to be wary of a new phone scam aiming to scare people into paying money for tax bills.

A man alerted the Compliance Division Friday morning, saying that he received two suspicious phone calls from the Comptroller's Office and threatening to arrest him if he didn't pay his tax bill.

"If anyone calls you asking for personal information or worse yet, threatening you with arrest, don't respond and hang up immediately," Comptroller Franchot said. "The staff of my agency would never treat Maryland taxpayers that way. These crooks are trying to scare you by taking your money and stealing your identity. They are shameless, unscrupulous predators trying to destroy your financial sanctity."

Neither the Comptroller's Office nor the Internal Revenue Service calls taxpayers and ask for personal information or Social Security numbers.

The Comptroller's Office warns taxpayers to also not reply to emails requesting confidential information, especially your Social Security number, birth date, salary information or home address. If you receive an email asking for a copy of your W-2 form, you should immediately contact your employer. You also may call 1-800-MD-TAXES or email mdcomptroller@comp.state.md.us.

Field Enforcement agents are investigating the phone numbers provided by the taxpayer.

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