Beware of Potential IDENTITY THEFT Scams

The Michigan Department of Treasury is warning taxpayers to protect their identities and personal information very carefully.  We have been advised of an apparent scam in which taxpayers receive telephone calls indicating that if they provide their personal bank account information, the Michigan Department of Treasury will direct deposit government benefits into the taxpayers' account.  The amount promised in one case was $8,000.  This is not true.  This was an apparent attempt to secure confidential bank account information.  By providing your information, you could become the victim of monetary theft, financial fraud and/or identity theft. 

There are a number of variations of this scam: individuals may contact you by telephone, email, or text message and ask for your banking information, social security number, credit card number, or other personal information.  DO NOT PROVIDE ANY OF THIS INFORMATION unless and until you have verified with your financial institution that it is legitimate request.  Neither the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) nor the Michigan Department of Treasury contact taxpayers by telephone, email or text message to request confidential information.

If someone contacts you and requests personal information, do not provide it and contact your local law enforcement agency.