Scam Phone Calls Reported In Bensalem

BENSALEM, PA — Police in Bensalem are warning residents about what they call a rise in reports of spam phone calls in the township.

According to police, the callers claim to be from the Internal Revenue Service or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). They also have the ability to spoof phone numbers, so it appears they are calling from a local or federal government office, police said.

The callers are threatening call recipients with jail time or the revocation of their immigration status unless they make a payment using gift cards. They are told to scratch off the code on the back of the cards and send them to the caller, police said.

Police remind residents that no local or federal government office will ask you for payment over the phone. Also, no government office will accept gift cards as payment, they said.

If you receive one of these calls:

• Do not give the caller any personal information.
• Do not buy gift cards and provide the information to the caller.
• If you have questions about a call, contact Bensalem Police or check the published phone number of the federal agency online and call them to check your status.