Residents may receive a phone call from a purported “IRS Agent” stating they owe back taxes and to call 276-522-5884 or another fraudulent number. The scammer will then advise the resident to purchase a prepaid credit card and give the information to them. Don’t give any information. This is a known scam that has been happening all over the panhandle. The IRS does not collect money this way. Residents should never give personal or financial information over the phone to persons they don’t know or can verify. The IRS has your personal information and would only ask you to send them a check to a verified address for any amount due. Additionally, the IRS will send a letter prior to contacting the tax payer by phone.
If in doubt, call the DeFuniak Springs Police at 892-8511 and the legitimacy of the IRS Agent will be verified for you.