The IRS Imposter Scam Calls from the IRS can be scary especially if the person on the other end of the line threatens to arrest if you if you do not immediately pay your unpaid taxes. This scam is on the IRS’ “Dirty Dozen” list which is a list of scams involving the IRS. Many of the other scams on the list are aimed at taxpayers who try to cheat the system, whether it’s hiding their money in off-shore tax shelters or falsely inflating refund claims. However, this one is aimed at scamming the taxpayer, not the IRS. According to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA),…
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Mental Incompetency in Guardianship and Divorce
It is not uncommon for courts to name one’s spouse as their guardian, but what happens when the incompetent party wants to get divorced from his wife and guardian? Can one be incompetent, yet understand the consequences of and express a desire to get divorced? Carolyn, the wife of an eighty-eight year old Kentucky man, Elmer Riehle, petitioned the court to appoint a guardian for her husband for financial reasons – to protect both herself and Elmer.[1] Carolyn decided to file the petition after Elmer sent thousands of dollars of the couple’s money to an e-mail scammer claiming to…
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Beware of the Summertime Grandparent Scams
With school out and college kids exploring the world, so-called “Grandparent Scams” are on the rise. These insidious scams prey on the reputation of grandparents as willing to help their grandchildren and the possibility that their memories might be weakened by age or illness. Elder abuse scams, like this one, result in over $35 billion lost each year. How they work: Scammers employ several methods to find their victims. Stereotypically old-fashioned names in a phone book are used as targets, as well as folks on lists for certain publications or services that cater to the elderly. Once the…
