Attorney general files suit against man for attempt to collect tax information from Missouri consumers

Attorney General Chris Koster has announced that his office is seeking preliminary and permanent injunctions, restitution, and civil penalties against StarProse Corporation and Jeffrey Scott Kowalski. Kowalski, a resident of Michigan and the CEO of StarProse Corporation, attempted to collect personal tax information and non-existent debts from numerous Missouri consumers, including school superintendents, legislators, an associate circuit court judge, and even the governor.

Kowalski sent email messages to at least nine school superintendents throughout Missouri requesting that they complete and return online tax forms, including personal financial and identifying information such as Social Security numbers. Kowalski also sent collection notices to more than 70 Missouri consumers, including at least one school superintendent, 50 state legislators, an associate circuit court judge, and the governor, claiming that the consumers owed him money. None of the consumers targeted by Kowalski had business dealings with StarProse Corporation or Kowalski.

Kowalski has a history of harassing Missouri government officials. In October 2004, the attorney general filed suit against Kowalski and StarProse Corporation for sending e-mails to Missouri school superintendents demanding personal information, including sexual orientation, salary, date of birth, race, and gender. The Camden County Circuit Court prohibited Kowalski and StarProse Corporation from sending e-mails requesting personal identifying information under the guise of obtaining public information from a government entity.

"This office will not stand by while unscrupulous individuals harass Missourians by trying to collect fraudulent debt or trick them into releasing private information," Koster said. "Mr. Kowalski is up to his old tricks, and we're going to court to stop him."