A state-wide increase in reports of scams happens each year when Alaskans receive their Permanent Fund Dividend checks.
Alaska Regional Manager Michelle Tabler with the Better Business Bureau said this year’s record high $2,072 checks to Alaskans have already become targets.
Tabler: “The number one we’ve just heard about from the IRS and I’ve been hearing it from other people is that someone is calling and saying that they are from the IRS, that you owe money and that they threaten you with a lawsuit if you don’t send it right away. Just know that the IRS will never call you, everything will be by U.S. mail so if you get a phone call like that just hang up.”
Local Kenai Peninsula residents have reported receiving calls imitating the IRS.
Another popular scam during the PFD season is investment or vacation seminars.
Tabler: “They send you an invitation to come to a 90-minute seminar type thing and they promise you a voucher for a free plane ticket that doesn’t turn out to be free, just to get you because they know that people are going to be flush with money.”
Tabler says each year scam charities also pop-up.
Tabler: “They’re going to have names that sound familiar but they may not be the one that you know, they’re going to make a play on the name. If there are any unsolicited phone calls where somebody is calling you about a charity, somebody is sending you an email, just beware and it’s okay to do your research.”
Consumers can report suspected PFD fraud to the Alaska Department of Revenue Permanent Fund Dividend Division at 907-269-0385 or pfdfraud@alaska.gov.
BBB Scam Tracker reports can be made online at bbb.org.