PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The Rhode Island Division of Taxation is warning people about a new scam targeting Rhode Island taxpayers.
Neena Savage, the division’s tax administrator, told 12 News this is the first time she’s heard about scammers pretending to be from the state’s Division of Taxation to tell people that they owe taxes.
“We are all very familiar with the IRS being targeted with various fraud schemes, but this is the first time in my 10 years here that these calls have come from the Rhode Island Division of Taxation,” she said.
Savage reassured Rhode Islanders that her office will never call someone out of the blue: The Division of Taxation always mails a written notice about a tax debt before they call.
“If you don’t owe taxes and people are calling you about taxes, then it is probably a criminal trying to get your personal information,” she said.
They will also never make threatening, insulting or aggressive statements or ask you to make a tax payment with a gift card or a wire transfer.