Missouri AG warns of phone, email scams seeking tax info

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. � Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley is warning residents to be wary of telephone and email scams throughout tax season until Tax Day on April 15.

In past years, phone scammers have acted like IRS agents in an effort to steal money.

Hawley said his office in recent years has seen a rise in complaints from consumers regarding phone calls threatening consumers with arrest and other consequences for allegedly failing to pay a tax bill.

Hawley said the scammers call unsolicited, often altering caller ID numbers to make it appear the IRS or another government agency is calling. The callers try to get the victim to pay cash, usually through a wire transfer or a prepaid debit or gift card by threatening arrest or conviction.