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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1974.
PUBLIC WARNED TO GUARD AGAINST TAX IMPERSONATORS
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MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WERE TODAY WARNED AGAINST PERSONS REPRESENTING THEMSELVES AS INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS AND SOLICITING ADVERTISEMENTS IN NON-EXISTENT PUBLICATIONS.
THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF INLAND REVENUE, MR. V.A. LADD, SAID THAT THE WARNING APPLIED PARTICULARLY TO BUSINESSMEN.
+BUSINESSMEN HAVE BEEN APPROACHED BY PERSONS POSING AS OFFICERS OF THE DEPARTMENT, AND HAVE BEEN ASKED TO BUY ADVERTISING SPACE IN SOME MYTHICAL PUBLICATION, SUCH AS THE CHINESE VERSION OF INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE' OR THE INLAND REVENUE MAGAZINE' SAID MR. LADD.
+SUCH DEMANDS ARE USUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THREATS TO EXAMINE THE BUSINESS AND PERSONAL ACCOUNTS SCRUPULOUSLY, IF A REFUSAL APPEARS TO BE LIKELY.
+THERE ARE NO SUCH PUBLICATIONS IN EXISTENCE. IN FACT, NONE OF THE MANY PUBLICATIONS ISSUED BY THE 1NLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT CARRY ANY FORM OF ADVERTISING MATTER WHATSOEVER.
MR. LADD ADDED THAT THE POLICE SHOULD ALWAYS BE INFORMED OF ANY SUCH CASE, AND POINTED OUT THAT ONE MAN WAS RECENTLY ARRESTED AND SENTENCED TO A YEAR'S IMPRISONMENT FOR SEVERAL OFFENCES OF IMPERSONATION.
+THERE IS REASON TO BELIEVE THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE ATTEMPTING THE SAME SWINDLE,+ HE SAID. +ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO IS ASKED TO BUY ADVERTISING SPACE IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD TELEPHONE THE NEAREST POLICE STATION, OR, DURING OFFICE HOURS, TELEPHONE THE DEPUTY COMMISSION (TELEPHONE NO. 5-95270) OR THE PRINCIPAL TAX INSPECTOR (TELEPHONE NO. 5-248C01, EXTENSION 21) OF THE INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT.
EXPLAINING THE PROCEDURE FOR NORMAL RELATIONS WITH THE PUBLIC, MR. LADD SAID THAT ALL TAX INSPECTORS AND OTHER OFFICERS WHO HAD CONTACT WITH THE PUBLIC OUTSIDE THE OFFICE WERE REQUIRED TO CARRY GOVERNMENT IDENTITY CARDS AND/OR DEPARTMENTAL WARRANT CARDS.
+THEY SHOULD BE ASKED TO PRODUCE THESE TO ESTABLISH THEIR IDENTITY, HE STRESSED. THE OFFICER IS REQUIRED TO PRODUCE HIS AUTHORITY IMMEDIATELY.
+NO OFFICER OF THE DEPARTMENT IS AUTHORISED TO RECEIVE ANY MONEY FROM THE PUBLIC EXCEPT IN THE NORMAL PAYMENT OF TAXES AND FEES AT THE LISTED OFFICIAL REVENUE COLLECTION CENTRES, WHERE AN OFFICIAL MACHINE-PRINTED RECEIPT WILL BE GIVEN FOR THE FULL AMOUNT PAID.+
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