Newark Police announced Wednesday that a telephone scam is targeting people in California under the guise of the IRS.
A person acting as an IRS agent is calling people who recently immigrated to the United States and residents who have lived here for years to tell them they owe money to the Internal Revenue Service. The "agent" demands payment through a pre-paid debit card or a wire transfer. If the person they are calling says no, the “agent” threatens to call the police to have them arrested. They are said to become hostile and insulting.
Danny Werfel, IRS Acting Commissioner said the scam has hit taxpayers in nearly every state in the country.
“We want to educate taxpayers so they can help protect themselves,” Werfel said. “Rest assured, we do not and will not ask for credit card numbers over the phone, nor request a pre-paid debit card or wire transfer,” he said.
“If someone unexpectedly calls claiming to be from the IRS and threatens police arrest, deportation or license revocation if you don’t pay immediately, that is a sign that it really isn’t the IRS calling,” he said. Werfel said if a person owes money to the IRS, they would receive notification in the mail.
Newark Police are not aware if anyone within city limits has been victimized.
Anyone who has received such a call can report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 1-800-366-4484 or the Federal Trade Commission. Include the phrase IRS Telephone Scam in the comments for it to be sent to the proper investigator.
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