Scammers Sending Phony Tax Collection Letters to Wisconsin Residents

Tuesday, July 13th, 2021 -- 8:08 AM

(Raymond Neupert, WRN) State officials are getting reports of scammers sending phony tax collection letters to Wisconsin residents who are behind on their taxes.

State officials are warning people who are behind on their taxes about fake letters from scammers. State consumer protection administrator Lara Sutherlin says scammers are targeting people who have court cases for tax issues with threatening letters. 

"They also have a fake government seal with the image of the United States in a circle rather than a state, county, or municipal seal. The paid postage mark indicating the letter originated from LA."

The letters are coming from a phony office called the "Benefits Suspension Unit". Sutherlin says the physical letter is just the same sort of scam as calls to your house from people claiming to be the IRS or the FBI.

"It's a tax collection threat. You know, people are scared that there's going to be an enforcement matter if someone doesn't respond."

Sutherlin says the scammers are trying to pass themselves off as a legitimate government agency in order to scam you out of money. 

"They use a fake seal that looks like a government entity to give it that authenticity, and then they come up with these strange units that sound official but they don't exist."

If you get one of these letters and  you're worried that you might owe money, contact the Department of Revenue directly, and don't use the phone number or contact info in the letter.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.