Scam targets seniors, disabled through Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program

The Pennsylvania Department of Aging recently issued a warning  about a new attempt by scammers to take advantage of a popular tax rebate program. The new scam is targeting older Pennsylvanians and those with disabilities, specifically those who have applied for a rebate through the state’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program (PTRR).

This week, Pennsylvania Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne issued an official warning from the Pennsylvania Treasury Department. According to the advisory, applicants of PTRR have received calls from scammers requesting their bank account information to “facilitate the payment of their rebates through direct deposits.”

Scammers on these calls will often falsely identify themselves as Treasury Department representatives.

It is important to note that the Treasury Department and Department of Revenue will never call applicants of the program to ask for their bank information. The Department advises those that receive suspicious calls to hang up immediately, and never give out sensitive personal information over the phone.

You can find more information on the scam, including resources and background on the PTRR program here