Police: Scam Artist Afoot In Dixon

From the Dixon Police Department:

The Dixon Police Department wants the community to be aware of a scam that is making the rounds again. One of our residents reported receiving a phone call from someone claiming to be from the United States Treasury.

The caller harshly warned our citizen that she owed money in back taxes, and that if she didn’t talk to him, he would send the police over to haul her away to a Federal prison. Fortunately, she questioned the validity of the call and said she was contacting the police herself. She did not provide any personal information to the scam artist.

Our officers have been receiving similar reports, and would like folks in the community to be wary of people trying to steal your money by using tricks or bully tactics.

Please do not give out any personal information such as name and birthdate, Social Security Number, driver license number, or any banking information. Do not even give out your name or phone number, because sometimes these calls are dialed by a computer and the caller may not even know who or where you are.

Other scammers may pretend to be PG&E threatening to cut off your power, DMV collecting parking fines, or other official-sounding group. These types of organizations typically do not collect taxes or other debts in this manner, so you should hang up immediately.

If you wish to check on the validity of a call, you may cal the organization back. Use a phone number that you have verified through phone company listings or trusted websites.

If you accidentally give out personal information and your identity is copromised, please contact the Police Department to see about filing a police report.

The Dixon Police Department does not arrest people for unpaid taxes, nor do we use the telephone to solicit money or collect fines. Information on Identity Theft is available at the Police Department for those interested in tips on protecting themselves.

The members of the Dixon Police Department hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season.