Commissioner of Insurance Mike Chaney is warning customers of Mississippi Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company (Mississippi Farm Bureau) about a potential scam
Some individuals and customers have recently received a fraudulent letter and check purporting to be from Mississippi Farm Bureau.
The heading of the letter reads “FUNDS / CHECK MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTION” and the instructions accompanying the check advise the recipient to send an email or text to a fraudulent email address or telephone number before depositing the check at the bank
Mississippi Farm Bureau is working to protect their customer’s security.
The Company does not require preauthorization on company-issued checks.
Anyone who receives a fraudulent letter or check such as the one described herein should immediately contact their local Farm Bureau insurance agent or adjuster.
Chaney also asks you notify the following:
The Insurance Fraud Division of the Mississippi Insurance Department toll-free at 1-800-562-2957; The Insurance Integrity Enforcement Bureau of the Mississippi Attorney General’s office toll-free at 1-888-528-5780; The National Insurance Crime Bureau toll-free at 1-800-TEL-NICB.COPY
IRS tax scam
The IRS is warning the public about a phone scam that targets people across the nation, including recent immigrants.
Callers claiming to be from the IRS tell intended victims they owe taxes and must pay using a pre-paid debit card or wire transfer.
The scammers threaten those who refuse to pay with arrest, deportation or loss of a business or driver’s license.
The callers who commit this fraud often:
• Use common names and fake IRS badge numbers.
• Know the last four digits of the victim’s Social Security number.
• Make caller ID appear as if the IRS is calling.
• Send bogus IRS emails to support their scam.
• Call a second time claiming to be the police or DMV, and caller ID again supports their claim.
The truth is the IRS usually first contacts people by mail – not by phone – about unpaid taxes. And the IRS won’t ask for payment using a pre-paid debit card or wire transfer. The agency also won’t ask for a credit card number over the phone.
