IRS Scam Victimizes Nanuet Man

The Clarkstown Police Department received a call from a man May 6 saying that he had fallen victim to an phone scam.

Police said the man, a 32-year-old Nanuet resident, told them he received a phone call from “1911” on his mobile phone caller ID. He answered the call and was told by a man with an American accent that the IRS would arrest him if he didn’t pay $2,000 that he owed the IRS.

The victim was instructed to buy four separate Apple iTunes gift cards in the amount of $500 each.

He followed the instructions of the caller and purchased the gift cards. Then he called the "IRS" back and provided the man with the card numbers, giving him access to the $2,000.

This phone scam is an ongoing problem in our community, police said. More than 25 percent of the larcenies reported to the Clarkstown Police Department involve some form of fraud.

The Clarkstown Police Department has been trying to raise the public’s awareness of this threat, police said -- because due to the fact that most of these criminal organizations are overseas, it makes the job of apprehending the suspects nearly impossible.

Please be very suspicious of anyone contacting you by phone or email demanding payment or your personal information. If you ever are in doubt please call the Clarkstown Police Department at 845-639-5800 immediately.