State Comptroller William Donald Schaefer has issued a warning to Maryland taxpayers about a telephone scam targeting direct deposit users.
According to the Comptroller?s Office, a Maryland taxpayer receiving a tax refund this year reported that a caller using the name of Sara Merkley identified herself as a “national verification official” with the state of Maryland, at 866-751-9634, a phony position and office.
The fraudulent caller asked to confirm the taxpayer?s bank account number. No information was given, and when the state resident later attempted to check the source of the call, an automated response that the call could not be completed as dialed was received.
“Under no circumstances do we call taxpayers and ask for personal banking information,” Schaefer said in a statement. “It?s rare, but if for any reason a direct deposit refund fails or is rejected, we immediately issue a paper check.”
