Elderly Darien Woman Pays IRS Scammer in iTunes Gift Cards: PD

DARIEN, CT—A 74-year-old woman was scammed out of $1,000 after a phony IRS agent demanded a most unusual form of payment.

A man named "Paul Brown" called the woman July 19 at her place of employment and said she owed $1,000 in penalties and needed to pay or she would be arrested by police.

The victim agreed to make payment and kept the phone call active. She went to Walgreens on Heights Road and purchased two $500 iTunes gift cards as instructed. She was instructed not to mention the IRS while purchasing the cards.

She then read the numbers on the back of the cards to the caller. He thanked her and hung up.

The victim later contacted her son who realized it was a scam and told her to call police.

Police called back the number that called the woman 509-592-9796. A voicemail message said all agents were busy.

The IRS will never call taxpayers and demand immediate payment, especially in the form of gift cards, police said. Correspondence is sent via the United States Postal Service.