Beware: Sophisticated Scam Got a Number of Marlborough Residents

Marlborough police are warning of a sophisticated phone scam that has struck a number of residents in recent weeks.

Victims, and potential victims, reported to police that they received a phone call by someone claiming to be an “agent” and that money is owed to the IRS, and that they “must pay immediately through a pre-paid debit card or wire transfer.”

This “agent” then proceeds to warn the would-be victim that he or she will be arrested, deported or have a business license or driver’s license suspended. The caller, say victims, intimidates with hostility and insulting statements.

Residents should be immediately suspicious of anyone asking for pre-paid debit cards or wire transfers. If this is given out, the “money will be lost forever,” warn police.

The scam has hit taxpayers in nearly every state.

“We want to educate residents,” said police. “Rest assured, the IRS does not and will not ask for credit card numbers over the phone, nor request a pre-paid debit card or wire transfer. 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.”

IRS will usually contact with taxpayers via US mail, said police.

Other scam characteristics:

• Scammers use fake names and IRS badge numbers. They generally use common names and surnames to identify themselves.
• Scammers may be able to recite the last four digits of the victim’s Social Security Number.
• Scammers spoof the IRS toll-free number on caller ID to make it appear that it’s the IRS calling.
• Scammers sometimes send bogus IRS emails to some victims to support their bogus calls.
• Victims hear background noise of other calls being conducted to mimic a call site.
• After threatening victims with jail time or driver’s license revocation, scammers hang up and others soon call back pretending to be from the local police or DMV, and the caller ID supports their claim.

If you get a call from someone like this, and you think you owe taxes, or know that you do, call the IRS at 800-829-1040.

If you know you don’t owe taxes, call and report to the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 800-366-4484.

You can also report this to the Federal Trade Commission at FTC.gov.