- February 25, 2025
Big season for phone scams
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office has issued a notice to remind income tax filers to avoid falling victim to scammers.
Recently, the Sheriff’s Office has heard from victims who received a phone call from someone claiming to be an IRS officer. The caller generally claims the victim owes money, and unless he or she pays immediately using a prepaid, reloadable money card, the IRS will file fraud charges.
One victim in a recent case paid roughly $6,800 this way before realizing she was getting scammed, according to the Sheriff’s Office. When she told the scam artist she was calling law enforcement, he told her to go ahead … he was calling authorities to file fraud charges against her.
Scam artists have also been calling local victims claiming they owe utility bills and demanding the same kinds of prepaid-card payments. In other cases, victims try to file their taxes only to find out a scammer has already received their refund.
The IRS is launching a pilot project aimed at protecting Florida residents. It allows them to opt in to receive a six-digit PIN to prevent criminals from filing false tax returns in their name. For more information, visit irs.gov/Individuals/Get-An-Identity-Protection-PIN.
City awards grant money
City Commissioners have approved using Community Development Block Grant funds, which come from Volusia County, to support three local organizations.
Great Kids Explorer Club Inc. will receive $15,000 to cover a portion of the education staff’s salary. The organization provides tutoring to students from low and moderate income households in the city.
STAR Family Center will receive $16,000 for operating expenses to support homelessness prevention services by funding facility rental, utilities and staff salary costs.
The Volusia/Flagler Coalition for the Homeless will receive $10,000 for a Homeless Management Information System including hardware, software and salary costs.
