Bergen County Sheriff's Office Warns Residents of IRS Fraud

Press release:

The Bergen County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint from a Bergen County resident with regards to an “IRS” scam. The resident received phone call from individual identifying himself as Mr. McCoy, with the Internal Revenue Service. The caller informed the victim that he owed $3,900 in back taxes which needed to be paid immediately or the fine would be increased to $90,000.

The caller instructed the intended victim to stay on the phone and to go to an Office Depot in Wayne and purchase $3,900 in Green Dot money cards. The caller knew pertinent information about the intended victim, his wife and home residence which added to the anxiety of the victim.

While at the Office Depot, the store manager recognized that a possible scam was being perpetrating and had the victim terminate the call. Moments later, the intended victim received another call on his cell phone from an individual identifying himself an Under Sheriff with the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office. The caller ID on the cell phone came back to a working number from the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, leading the intend victim to believe the caller. The caller also threatened to have officers go to his residence and arrest his wife. At this time the victim hung up and immediately contacted an acquaintance with the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office who reported the incident to the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Saudino advises all Bergen County residents that if you receive a phone call stating you are in trouble with the IRS or owe money to another law enforcement agency, “you should not give out any personal information or identification over the phone, and are advised not transfer any money using prepaid debit cards on behalf of a government agency. If you are being asked for your personal information from an unsolicited phone number, hang up immediately and notify your local authorities.”

“No Government agency will tell you to make payments to them through a bank or wire transfer or debit cards,” Sheriff Saudino said. “It is incumbent on all residents to be alert and it does not hurt to take the time to verify these incidents with us.”

Anyone who believes they may have been exposed to this or a similar scam/ fraud is asked to contact either the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office at 201-646-2222, www.bergentip.com, or to contact your local police department.