A local tax preparer wants to pass along a message she’s received from the Iowa Department of Revenue. Jan Kinnison with J&R Tax Service in Atlantic, says Iowa officials have been made aware of a potential scam targeting Iowa taxpayers. The scam begins through an automated phone call, which shows on your caller ID as being from 515-281-3114. That number is the Iowa Dept. of Revenue’s Taxpayer Service number, however, no automated phone calls can originate from that number.

If you answer, you’ll be informed that you are eligible for a refund from the Iowa Dept. of Revenue, and you’ll be asked whether the refund should be deposited into the account the Dept. has on-file, if you’ like to donate the refund to an animal charity. The Dept. of Revenue stresses that THEY WILL NOT MAKE THESE TYPES OF CALLS! Official believe this is an attempt to steal your bank account or other personal information.

By fraudulently displaying the Department’s phone number on caller ID, the scammer is attempting to convince you the call is legitimate. If you receive such a call, DO NOT PROVIDE any information to the caller. You may report the incident to the Iowa Dept. of Revenue or Iowa Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division.

For more information, go to https://tax.iowa.gov/identity-theft-and-phishing.