LAKE COUNTY — When Clearlake Oaks resident Martha Bell got a series of letters asking her to send money and personal information in order to get a Homeowners and Renters Assistance Program (HRA) rebate from the Franchise Tax Board, she knew something wasn”t right.
“I went to the (Live Oak) Senior Center, and the girl who works there said it was a scam,” Martha Bell said.
She was right, according to Franchise Tax Board spokesman John Barrett. The state agency issues a property tax rebate to people who are blind, disabled or older than 62. Applications and help filling them out are available online at www.ftb.ca.gov and at approximately 1,200 locations throughout the state, and the service is free.
Barrett said he gets one or two phone calls every year from the media asking about scams where people are being asked to pay to get the rebate.
“It”s not illegal, because there”s no law that says they can”t mail out these solicitation letters. It”s not right, though, because there”s so much free help out there,” Barrett said.
Martha Bell and her husband Clarence Bell get the HRA rebate every year under Clarence Bell”s name. The first scam letter the couple received in February asked for proof of Clarence Bell”s age and listed acceptable forms of proof, including a birth certificate, driver”s license, military records and a Social Security awards letter, and went as far as to give a legitimate 800-number to call the Social Security office.
Another letter came in July, saying the couple”s $88.40 rebate had been or would be sent. It also said the couple”s account was due, and asked for $21 before the couple”s annual renewal information could be processed.
“There”s no reason for an account to be due. The legitimate person is sitting behind the desk at the Live Oak Senior Center. This person is just trying to get a $21 check from poor seniors,” Barrett said.
A legitimate letter would have the California state seal on it and would say it was from the Franchise Tax Board, according to Barrett. Both were missing from the letters the Bells received, which said they were from the senior advisory centers for rebate assistance in El Cajon and Sacramento. Anyone who is unsure if a letter is legitimate can call the Franchise Tax Board at 1-800- 852-5711.
“There are 15 million taxpayers, so you might have to sit on hold for awhile,” Barrett said.
Martha Bell said she and her husband qualified for $88.40 last year, but didn”t know how the scammers got that information. Barrett didn”t offer an explanation, either.
“That”s what really stuns me. For them to do that, they must have some connection with it,” Martha Bell said.
Barrett said people who qualify for the HRA rebate need to remember that the service is free, and to be especially careful because of the risk of identity theft.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com
