Scammers call claiming to be with state Treasury

State Treasurer Ted Wheeler on Tuesday cautioned Oregonians to beware of a newly reported telephone scam in which a threatening impersonator claims to be from the State Treasury.

Several callers contacted Treasury Tuesday to report the scam, and also reported that the caller ID from the scammers even showed that the calls were placed from the Oregon State Treasury switchboard. That is not happening, the treasurer said.

The Oregon Treasury doesn’t even collect taxes: In Oregon — that’s the Oregon Department of Revenue.

“Protect your finances. Just hang up!” Wheeler said.

The scam is a new spin on a deceitful effort in which callers claim to be from the IRS, and demand payment of back taxes. The Oregon Department of Justice on Monday released its annual list of “Top 10 Scams” and impersonator calls were No. 1 on the list.

If you want to learn more about scams in Oregon and what to look out for, visit the Attorney General’s Scam Alert Network at www.oregonconsumer.gov, or Guard Your Money on the Oregon Treasury website.