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The town of Saugerties has issued a warning to its residents about a scam involving individuals posing as the receiver of taxes. This scam is part of a larger trend of phishing and "smishing" (text message phishing) scams targeting taxpayers across several states, as noted by Current Federal Tax Developments. These scams aim to steal sensitive personal and financial information by impersonating state tax agencies through various channels, including text messages, emails, and phone calls.
The Saugerties Police Department has advised residents to be cautious and report any suspicious communications. They encourage residents to download the CRIMEWATCH app to stay informed about local alerts and updates, as indicated on the Saugerties Police Department's website.
These scams are not limited to Saugerties. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has also alerted taxpayers nationwide about fraudulent tax schemes promoted on social media, which have led to inaccurate tax filings and significant penalties. According to the IRS, these scams have resulted in over 32,000 penalties, costing taxpayers more than $162 million.
Residents are urged to verify any tax-related communications with official sources and to report suspected scams to the IRS or the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. The Saugerties warning is part of a broader effort to protect taxpayers from these fraudulent activities.