The Financial Aid Office is warning students to be aware of scammers attempting to trick students into paying a fake Federal Student Tax or giving away sensitive financial information.

The warning is not related to any specific instance targeting Moorpark College students, but is part of a general warning that the Internal Revenue Service recommends colleges make to their students, according to financial aid officer Kim Korinke.

“We received a notice from the Department of Education that the IRS encourages all schools to let students and parents know that these kinds of threats exist,” Korinke said.

The Moorpark College Financial Aid Office received a notice from the IRS detailing the kinds of scams that target students. According to that notice, IRS impersonators will call students or their families demanding payment of a fake Federal Student Tax. The scammers have been known to become belligerent if the payment is refused and have threatened to send local police to arrest the student refusing to pay, according to the IRS.

“Although variations of the IRS impersonation scam continue year-round, they tend to peak when scammers find prime opportunities to strike,” said IRS commissioner John Koskinen in the statement. “As students and parents enter the new school year, they should remain alert to bogus calls, including those demanding fake tax payments from students.”

The IRS and the Financial Aid Office at Moorpark College will never ask students for their social security number or bank information over the phone. They will also never demand immediate payment over the phone; students will always receive a bill by mail or email. The IRS will never threaten to have local law enforcement arrest you, according to the statement.

If students have been contacted by someone claiming to be from the IRS asking for money, the IRS asks that they report them to the Federal Trade Commission for investigation. Complaints with the FTC can by filed using the FTC complaint assistant on FTC.gov.