Beware of phone scams — They are real!

I recently became aware of a Texas case involving the use of call centers in India who “impersonated officials from the IRS or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in a ruse designed to defraud victims located throughout the United States.”

I advise my clients to be very skeptical about anyone who calls and claims to be from any government agency or bank. Always ask for verification of identity, and never give any personal information like date of birth, social security number, address, etc. to anyone who calls.

Certainly never send money to someone who calls and threatens you.

According to this article, “call center operators targeted U.S. victims who were threatened with arrest, imprisonment, fines or deportation if they did not pay alleged monies owed to the government.　 Victims who agreed to pay the scammers were instructed how to provide payment, including by purchasing stored value cards or wiring money.”

Scammers like these prey on the vulnerable in society. Don’t become another victim!