DALLAS, March 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- As National
Consumer Protection week kicks off, MoneyGram (NASDAQ: MGI)
urges consumers to stay alert for one of the most common scams
currently trending across the country. The IRS Imposter Scam has
already cost victims more than $26
million*, and the number of consumer complaints continues to
rise.
The crime begins with a phone call from someone claiming to be
with the IRS or a federal agent working with the IRS. The imposter
tells the consumer he or she owes money that must be paid with a
prepaid card or wire transfer or face jail time. The fraudster
often alters the caller ID to make it appear as the call originates
from Washington, D.C. Scammers
even use fake badge names and numbers and may even know a
consumer's full or partial social security number, lending
credibility to the scam.
"Fraudsters are very convincing. They use threats of jail,
deportation or anything else they know will play on their victims'
emotions and force them to react," says Kim
Garner, MoneyGram's senior vice president of global
investigations. "The most important thing every consumer
should remember is the IRS will never call a taxpayer to ask for a
money transfer or credit card number. The agency will never
threaten to arrest or deport a taxpayer over the telephone. Anyone
who receives a call like this should hang up immediately."
Consumers who think they've been a victim of the IRS scheme or
any other scam should file a police report, even if only a small
amount of money was lost. Reporting a crime helps law enforcement
spot trends and stay ahead of the criminals as well as the
fast-changing fraud scenarios.
MoneyGram has taken a leadership position in consumer fraud
education and is the founding member of the Scam Awareness
Alliance, a nonprofit organization that provides information about
scams. Consumers can learn more at scamawareness.org.
#moneygramnews
*U.S. Treasury Inspector General's Office
About MoneyGram International, Inc.
MoneyGram is a
global provider of innovative money transfer and payment services
and is recognized worldwide as a financial connection to friends
and family. Whether online, or through a mobile device, at a kiosk
or in a local store, we connect consumers any way that is
convenient for them. We also provide bill payment services, issue
money orders and process official checks in select markets. More
information about MoneyGram International, Inc. is available at
moneygram.com.
About The Scam Awareness Alliance
The Scam Awareness
Alliance was created to raise awareness around common scams that
target innocent Americans on a daily basis. The Alliance helps to
provide tips and information in order to educate people to
recognize the "red flags" that may indicate potential scams, and
arm them with information that they can use to protect themselves
and their loved ones. One of the ways the Alliance raises awareness
of scams is through a series of public service announcements.
These ads air on stations across the country and depict common
scams; helping everyday Americans recognize the "red flags." The
Alliance also created a monthly "Red Flag Award," which it
gives to organizations, individuals or groups that go the extra
mile in warning Americans about the latest and most damaging
scams.
Media Contact:
Michelle
Buckalew
media@moneygram.com
214-979-1418
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SOURCE MoneyGram