Be aware: Top scams in August

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has compiled the top scams affecting Eastern Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island and Vermont in August. BBB’s Scam Tracker reported an abundance of tax/debt collection and tech support scams circulating the service area.

Last month in Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, the most prevalent scam was debt/tax collection.

Consumers reported receiving calls from scammers claiming to be the U.S. Treasury Department, the Internal Revenue Service and the legal department of the IRS.

One consumer reported that he was told that if he didn’t contact the scammer, then he would be taken to court for a federal offense. Another consumer reported “that the IRS has named [them] in a criminal lawsuit and provided the case number.”

In many reports, scammers claiming to be collecting taxes threaten lawsuits, arrests and jail time if immediate payment is not received. BBB advises consumers to never wire money or send prepaid debit cards to scammers claiming to be from the IRS. Call the IRS at 800-366-4484 to determine if the caller is legitimate.

Last month in Maine and Vermont, the most prevalent scam was tech support. Consumers reported receiving calls from scammers claiming to be from Microsoft, Dell Tech Support, and computer security businesses.

One consumer reported that the scammer told him that his computer was interfering with the modems at Microsoft and needed to be cleaned out. Then, the scammer requested access to the consumer’s computer. Another consumer reported that the caller said “my computer is sending ‘alerts’ and wants to remote into [the] computer to fix the security problem.”

BBB urges consumers who receive unsolicited calls from someone offering help with computer issues to hang up the phone and do not give remote access. Consumers should be sure their anti-virus protection is up-to-date.

BBB’s Scam Tracker is free for consumers and businesses. Stay up-to-date on the latest scams in your area by visiting bbb.org/scamtracker/boston.