Scammers are using the state’s Unclaimed Property Division phone number to persuade consumers to make payments on bogus claims of past due taxes, State Treasurer Ron Estes said.

When a phone equipped with caller ID receives a call from the automated system, it reports the call is from the state office. Once connected, the automated system claims to be part of the IRS.

The answering party is told they owe taxes and is directed to select a payment plan.

“These automated phone calls should be ignored,” Estes said.“I urge all Kansans to be vigilant against phone and email scams that use the IRS or Kansas state agencies as a lure and avoid responding.”

Estes reminds Kansans that the State Treasurer’s Office will never request individuals to provide personal information to an automated phone call or charge a fee to return unclaimed property.

Kansans who receive suspicious phone calls claiming to be from the IRS can report them to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at (800) 366-4484.