Scam warning issued
By JEFF STITT
jstitt@yourmvi.com
The Department of Revenue issued a warning Thursday to Pennsylvanians to be cautious of a scam targeting seniors and people with disabilities who receive rebates through the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program.
The scam consists of unsolicited telephone calls from a person claiming to work for the Department of Revenue. The caller starts by saying the recipient’s application for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program has been approved, then asks if the recipient would like the rebate directly deposited into a bank account. That’s followed by a request for the recipient’s banking information.
“We want the public to be aware of this scam and know that the Department of Revenue does not make unsolicited calls requesting banking information,” Revenue Secretary Dan Hassell said. “We know that criminals are always looking for new ways to take advantage of Pennsylvanians, which is why it is critical for everyone to protect their financial information and be extremely cautious when they receive unsolicited phone calls.”
The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program is a program that provides property tax and rent relief to income-eligible seniors and people with disabilities. Last year, nearly 572,000 people received more than $253 million. Since the program’s inception in 1971, older and disabled adults have received more than $6.9 billion in property tax and rent relief.
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