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IRS Scammers Using Technology To Trick You

DENVER (CBS4) - Coloradans are getting hit hard by the IRS scam. CBS4 has heard from dozens of viewers who have gotten voicemail messages from scammers claiming to be with the U.S. Treasury Department. Messages says there is a judgement against you and you need to contact the number that's given.

"The thing that surprised me was that they did leave a voice message and a number to call back," said Linda, who got the call twice.

The scam is evolving to use Internet phone services and robocalls. That means the scammers can put out thousands of calls and only need a few people to take the bait.

Colorado is 13th in the nation for falling victim to this scam. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Information, TIGTA, investigates the IRS scam and says that 100 Coloradans reported losing more than $600,000 since 2013.

"It actually works," said Supervisory Special Agent Timothy Stone with the Federal Bureau of Investigation about why the scam keeps happening.

The FBI takes dozens of complaints a year from people who get harassed by the scam, and in some cases they assist in the investigation of the scams.

"Is it easy to track down these guys?" asked CBS4's Britt Moreno.

"It's actually extraordinarily difficult," Stone replied.

The scammers are often across state lines and overseas. They're using disposable phones and technology to mask their real phone numbers.

"It will look like it's a legitimate number coming in from a known either IRS or banking official," Stone explained.

Some people who get the call think the key to tracking down the scammers is the number that's left on the voicemail. But the scammers are manipulating those numbers too.

"Remember those numbers can be forwarded on to a secondary and tertiary numbers as well that make it even more difficult for us to track," Stone told CBS4.

While law enforcement has been able to make some arrests, and even convict some scammers, investigators say that education is the best way to stop the calls. The scammers will give up if they're not getting money anymore.

"Obviously this was a phony. I watch Channel 4. I saw your report on this. I knew this was it," said Jim, about the voicemail he got.

TIGTA does encourage people who get the call to file a report. You can either go to their website to file it online or you can call (800) 366-4484.

LINK: Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration Reporting

Libby Smith is a Special Projects Producer at CBS4. If you have a story you'd like to tell CBS4 about, call 303-863-TIPS (8477) or visit the News Tips section.

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