IRS Phone Scam Targeting Downers Grove Residents

The Downers Grove Police Department is warning residents of a telephone scam affecting the area.

Scammers pretend to be the IRS calling or emailing to collect taxes, according to a news release. The scammers may even have the last four digits of a victim’s Social Security number. They ask for payments via prepaid debit cards or wire transfer, which the IRS does not use, according to the release.

Police warn that a caller claiming to be the IRS and using threats is probably not legitimate. The IRS usually communicates about taxes through paper mail addressed only to a specific person.

Here are some important reminders from the Police Department regarding telephone solicitations:

• Do not provide personal information to unknown callers
• If you’re told to pay an advance fee to collect a prize, it’s a scam.
• Money Pak transactions are not refundable, cannot be reversed and are not FDIC-insured.

If you think you may have been the victim of telephone or mail fraud, contact the Downers Grove Police Department. If the scam involves the IRS, you may also report the incident directly to the Treasury’s Inspector General at 800-366-4484.