SHALIMAR, Fla., Aug. 7, 2017–The Okaloosa County Tax Collector is warning residents about a mail and phone scam circulating in the County.

Letters are being presented on letterhead resembling the Okaloosa County Tax Collector’s Office and identifies the office as an agent of the Internal Revenue Service.

Attached to the letter are multiple IRS forms to be completed and returned with certified funds.

“We take these actions seriously and are working with local Law Enforcement Agencies to bring these criminals to justice,” said Tax Collector Ben Anderson. “Protecting the residents of Okaloosa County from this kind of illegal activity is of utmost importance.”

Residents should be aware the Okaloosa County Tax Collector’s Office is not an agent of the IRS and will never send letters in conjunction with IRS forms.

Residents with questions concerning correspondence received from the Okaloosa County Tax Collector’s Office can stop at one of six locations in Crestview, Destin, Shalimar, Niceville, Hurlburt Field or Eglin Air Force Base to verify its authenticity or call the Tax Tip Hotline at 1-855-489-8477 (1-855-4TX-TIPS). Calls will be returned within 24 hours.

Okaloosa County Tax Collector’s Office news release