The Ministry of Finance has warned taxpayers to be on the alert for a tax refund scam. In a media statement issued Thursday, the ministry said a certain Martin van Wyk calls taxpayers, informing them that they have a tax refund due to them from the Inland Revenue Department. “He further informs taxpayers that there are tax arrears that have to be paid before the refund can be paid out to them and that the cash office at Inland Revenue is closed until January 2020,” the statement reads. The scammer then requests taxpayers to make payments at Shoprite and send the serial number and pin code to a cellphone number he provides. Alternatively, they can make payments via digital wallets, purportedly to cover the arrears. The ministry said no official from the Inland Revenue office is mandated to call a taxpayer and ask them to make payments through Shoprite or via digital wallets such as E-wallet or BlueWallet. “All tax payments must be made at designated cash offices at our offices across the country or through electronic funds transfers to the State account numbers provided by the Inland Revenue Department,” it said. -NAMPA