Sheriff’s Office Warns of ‘Olivia’ Tax Scam Targeting Residents

YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. — The Towns County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a widespread telephone scam involving a caller claiming to be “Olivia” who contacts individuals about their “current tax situation.” The fraudulent calls, which demand immediate payment and threaten arrest or deportation, are not affiliated with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), officials said.

According to the sheriff’s office, the IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers via phone calls, emails, or text messages. Instead, the agency’s first contact is always through a letter sent by mail. The scam, which has been reported nationwide, uses tactics such as fake caller ID to appear legitimate, pressure to pay through untraceable methods like prepaid debit cards or wire transfers, and offers to resolve tax issues for a fee.

“Scammers often rely on fear, threatening legal action or deportation to trick people into paying,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. “The IRS does not operate this way, and these calls should be ignored.”

Authorities outlined several red flags to identify the scam:

• The IRS does not demand immediate payment or use threats.

• Scammers may instruct victims to press a number, such as 2 or 9, to be removed from the call list, a tactic used to confirm active phone numbers.

• Requests for payment via prepaid debit cards, wire transfers, or cashier’s checks are not accepted by the IRS.

• Suspicious links in emails or texts may lead to harmful websites.

The sheriff’s office advises residents to take the following steps if they receive such a call or message:

• Do not reply or engage with the caller, as this may confirm the phone number is active and lead to more scam attempts.

• Avoid clicking on any links in suspicious emails or texts.

• Block the caller’s number, though scammers often use multiple numbers.

• Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at FTC.gov/impostors and to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov.

Residents unsure about their tax situation are urged to contact the IRS directly using official phone numbers listed on IRS.gov, not numbers provided by the caller.

For more information or to report a scam, visit FTC.gov or IRS.gov.