IRS Phone Scams Targeting Wall Residents, Police Warn

WALL, NJ -- The Wall Township Police Department warns residents about a sophisticated phone scam targeting taxpayers throughout the country.

We want to educate residents so they can help protect themselves. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) generally first contacts people by mail – not by phone – about unpaid taxes and the IRS will not ask for payment using a prepaid debit card, a money order or wire a transfer.

The IRS also will not ask for a credit card number over the phone. The callers who commit this fraud often:

• Utilize an automated robocall machine.
• Use common names and fake IRS badge numbers.
• May know the last four digits of the victim’s Social Security Number.
• Make caller ID information appear as if the IRS is calling.
• Aggressively demand immediate payment to avoid being criminally charged or arrested.
• Claim that hanging up the telephone will cause the immediate issuance of an arrest warrant for unpaid taxes.
• Send bogus IRS e-mails to support their scam.
• Call a second or third time claiming to be the police or department of motor vehicles, and the caller ID again supports their claim.

If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS asking for payment, here’s what you should do:

If you know you owe federal taxes, or you think you might owe taxes, hang up and call the IRS at 1.800.829.1040. The IRS employees can help you with your payment questions.

If you know you do not owe taxes, fill out the “IRS Impersonation scam” form on Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration website, www.tigta.gov, or call them at 1-800-366-4484.

You can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at www.FTC.gov. Add “IRS Telephone Scam” to the comments in your complaint.