CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OH – The Cuyahoga County Department of Consumer Affairs is alerting businesses to multiple mail scams that demand payment of alleged past-due taxes.

The scam letters have a headline that says, “Distraint Warrant.” They purport to be from “Cuyahoga County Tax Assessment Securities” or the “Cuyahoga County Tax Processing Unit” – offices that do not exist.

The scam letters claim to be warrants for unpaid taxes. One version threatens business owners with seizure of their wages, bank accounts or Social Security benefits.

Consumer Affairs is advising businesses who receive these or other scam letters:

• Do not call the toll-free number provided in the letter.
• Report the scam to Consumer Affairs by calling 216-443-7226 or by emailing a copy of letter to consumeraffairs@cuyahogacounty.us
• Remember that only scammers will request payment in retail gift cards, money wires or bitcoin. Government agencies do accept these payments.
  

“We want to assure business owners these demand letters are not real and are not issued by Cuyahoga County,” said Consumer Affairs Director Sheryl Harris.

Business owners who wish to check their tax status can contact the Ohio Department of Taxation at 1-800-282-1780. The Cuyahoga County Treasury Tax Services Department can be reached at 216-443-7420.

Learn more about scams at cuyahogacounty.us/scamsquad.

See example letters here.