Scam Alert: Callers Posing as City Tax Agents
Cara Zinski-Neace, Police Information Specialist, City of Dayton 937-333-1201
last updated 05/03/2016
The Dayton Police Department wishes make residents aware of a phone scam.
Scam Alert: Callers Posing as City Tax Agents
City of Dayton officials were recently contacted by several citizens who said they had been contacted by telephone by someone claiming to be a City tax agent.
During the phone calls, the purported tax agent demanded payment of overdue taxes and asked for payment in the form of a CVS pre-paid gift card.
While the Dayton Police Department is not aware of any residents to actually fall victim to the scam, the Department's Financial Crimes Unit wants to share the following information to help lower the risk being victimized by this and similar types of scams:
- Overdue tax notices are sent by U.S. mail.
- Federal, city or state agencies or legitimate businesses will not demand payment via gift card. If this payment suggestion is made, assume you are being scammed and immediately end all contact with the caller.
- The City of Dayton does not send agents to homes to collect unpaid taxes.
- The City of Dayton accepts only the following forms of payment: Credit card, personal check, money order, debit card or cash (cash payments accepted in-person at 101 W. Third St., first floor).
- If you receive a call from anyone claiming to be a federal, city or state tax agent, do not provide any personal information such as Social Security number, date of birth, banking information, etc. Instead, tell them you do not disclose personal information to callers.
- Take down the name of the caller, and then contact the agency directly by looking up the phone number directly from the agency's own website or phonebook to verify the legitimacy of the call. If the caller pushes for you to stay on the line and resolve the alleged "problem," hang up and immediately report the call to the agency in question using the phone number obtained independently from the agency's own website or phonebook.
- Never use phone numbers, email addresses or web addresses provided to you by someone who contacted you (either via mail, email or phone); always obtain the phone number/contact information for the agency/business by independent means.
- The City of Dayton does not send agents to homes to collect unpaid taxes.
- The City of Dayton accepts only the following forms of payment: Credit card, personal check, money order, debit card or cash (cash payments accepted in-person at 101 W. Third St., first floor).
- If you receive a call from anyone claiming to be a federal, city or state tax agent, do not provide any personal information such as Social Security number, date of birth, banking information, etc. Instead, tell them you do not disclose personal information to callers.
- Take down the name of the caller, and then contact the agency directly by looking up the phone number directly from the agency's own website or phonebook to verify the legitimacy of the call. If the caller pushes for you to stay on the line and resolve the alleged "problem," hang up and immediately report the call to the agency in question using the phone number obtained independently from the agency's own website or phonebook.
- Never use phone numbers, email addresses or web addresses provided to you by someone who contacted you (either via mail, email or phone); always obtain the phone number/contact information for the agency/business by independent means.
If you have a question or concern about your City taxes or if you receive any contact from someone claiming to be a representative of the City of Dayton Division of Tax & Accounting Administration, please call 937-333-3500.
If you have fallen victim to this or any other scam, contact the Dayton Police Department at 937-333-2677 to speak with an officer. Or, file an online report at www.daytonpolicereports.com/apps/citizenreporting.
