Petaluma PD Warns of Phone Scam in Area

Police in Petaluma are advising residents to be on alert for fraudulent phone calls from a person claiming to represent the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

According to police, they’ve received over 20 complaints from residents who said they’ve received the fake calls as of Tuesday.

Police said the callers would tell the victim that they owe back taxes and threaten them with criminal charges if they do not make an immediate payment. In other instances, police said the callers would tell the victim that there is a warrant for their arrest and that if they do not make an immediate payment, the victim would be arrested.

Police said the calls are not legitimate, as the U.S. Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service do not make these types of phone calls.

The calls are part of a growing trend in attempts get money from victims, according to police. They advise people who receive these types of calls to immediately hang up.

--Bay City News

Also on Patch:

• Head-On Collision Reported Tuesday Night On Hwy 12
• Man Who Assaulted Woman On Sonoma County Trail May Be Linked To Other Incidents
• Beached Whale in Pacifica Marred with Graffiti
• VIDEO: Officer’s Body Cam Captures Altercation Between Officer and Mother of Missing Boy