RICHMOND - The Virginia Department of Taxation has been alerted to a phone scam related to the new Virginia Tax Refund Debit Card.

The Department has received reports of phone calls being made to individuals, telling them that their "Way2Go prepaid MasterCard is locked for security reasons."  The automated caller then tries to get the listener to divulge personal information.

This is a phone scam.  The Department never makes automated calls and never solicits personal information in this manner.  If you receive such a call, hang up immediately.  If the call is recorded as a voice mail, delete it.

The Department goes to great lengths to protect the confidentiality and privacy of taxpayer information.  This scam is not related in any way to the security of the new tax refund debit card or any information that taxpayers may submit to the Department.  The Department cautions individuals never to give personal information to anyone calling unless they can verify the source.

A division of Xerox Corp. administers the new Virginia Tax Refund Debit Card and refers to it as the "Way2Go" card.

The Department is working with other government agencies, law enforcement, the debit card vendor, and the telephone companies involved to try and end the phone scam.  

If you have questions, please contact the agency's Customer Services Department at (804) 367-8031.