Colonia Man Falls Victim To IRS Phone Scam

WOODBRIDGE, NJ - Phone scam attempts pretending to be from the IRS are now using 911 numbers to try and trick victims. On Friday, a 31-year-old Colonia man reported that he had received a call that day from a woman who claimed to be with the IRS, saying he owed back taxes. The woman said he owed $4,000 in back taxes and if he did not pay, a warrant would be issued for his arrest.

The man hung up, but then got a call back from 911, who conferenced in the same woman. That conversation lasted about 30 minutes and the woman reiterated that he owed back taxes and would be jailed if he did not pay. He was instructed to go to various stores in Woodbridge Township and pay $4,000 in iTunes gift cards. Nervous that he would be arrested, the man did. He called the woman back and read her the gift card pin numbers over the phone. It was only after the man hung up that he realized he may have been scammed. He reported the incident to Woodbridge police.

"The local police or 911 will never call you saying you owe back taxes," said Capt. Roy Hoppock of the Woodbridge PD. "The IRS will never call and demand money nor will they ever ask for 'iTunes' as payment. That’s a clue right there, but people panic and fall for it and then it’s too late once they realize it’s a scam."