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Officials Warn Of Tax Collection Letter Scam

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Government officials warned residents Tuesday of a tax collector scam targeting the Southland.

The Department of Consumer Affairs has recorded several complaints from consumers who received phony letters in the mail that look like official government documents.

The letters, which appear to be from the Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector, demand money for property taxes and use wording that is identical to that of official tax collection notices.

The letters also refer to actual laws that govern tax collecting.

According to officials, the letters do not contain elements such as a date, an address line or property identification for the homeowner, or government phone numbers, which are always included in documents from the Treasurer and Tax Collector.

The letters additionally substitute an individual's name and a company name for that of the real Treasurer and Tax Collector.

"Consumers who have received the bogus solicitation or been victimized by this scam should file a complaint with our office," said Brian J. Stiger, of the County Department of Consumer Affairs. "We accept complaints on our website at dca.lacounty.gov or call us at (800) 593-8222."

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