Lakewood Tax Department Warns Residents, Business Owners of Online Scam

The city of Lakewood is warning residents and business owners to be aware of someone claiming to work for the city’s Tax Department, requesting personal information through private Facebook messages.

Last week, a local business owner called the Lakewood Tax Department with a report that an imposter set up a personal Facebook page wherein she is listed as the “Area Supervisor for the Lakewood income tax department.”

The person is not an employee of the city of Lakewood. The city has reported the matter to Facebook.

“We want people to know that the Lakewood Tax Department will never attempt to contact taxpayers by any means other than mail, and certainly not via Facebook,” said Patricia Chittock, the assistant finance director for the city’s Division of Municipal Income Tax.

“Taxpayers who have been or are contacted in this way are advised and encouraged to contact both the Lakewood Tax Department and the Lakewood Police Department to file a report.”

Anyone with questions about taxes — or have recently been contacted by someone on Facebook — please call the Lakewood Division of Municipal Income Tax at 216-529-6620. Additionally, the Lakewood Police Department can be reached at 216-521-6773.