APD Warns of IRS Scam
Press release from the Arcata Police Department:
In recent weeks the Arcata Police Department has received a number of calls regarding suspected IRS scam phone calls.
Residents have received calls from individuals representing themselves as employees of the Internal Revenue Service. The call instructs the recipient they are in violation of an unspecified tax law and they need to make an immediate payment to avoid arrest.
The APD would like to caution residents about these types of scams. The information below was taken from IRS website www.irs.gov
Telltale signs of a scam
The IRS (and its authorized private collection agencies) will never:
- Call to demand immediate payment using a specific payment method such as a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer. The IRS does not use these methods for tax payments. Generally, the IRS will first mail a bill to any taxpayer who owes taxes. All tax payments should only be made payable to the U.S. Treasury and checks should never be made payable to third parties.
- Threaten to immediately bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have the taxpayer arrested for not paying.
- Demand that taxes be paid without giving the taxpayer the opportunity to question or appeal the amount owed.
- Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
Additional tips and information on avoiding scams of this is type is available at www.irs.gov
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These scammers have a secondary scam they use – they call from “borrowed” numbers. I’ve called a few back to find the person on the phone (sounding totally different than the scammer) hadn’t made a call that day… Others are “not in service”.
WHEN they call, I listen to the first minute of the spiel and then I say, “Oh. You’re a scam call, aren’t you?”
They hang up immediately. Only had one stupid enough to try to convince me he wasn’t…
Got call on cel phone, its a recording with a number to call. Says you have lawsuit against you and this is last chance before prosecution.