Beware Of IRS Phone Scams, Local Police Warn

As tax filing season gets underway, local police are warning about IRS phone scams, which are targeting Bucks County residents.

“We have taken 9 complaints today in reference to this type of scam and we urge you to never give out any personal information and do not return these types of calls,” Upper Makefield Police posted Tuesday on Facebook.

Residents should beware of these phone calls from individuals claiming to represent the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the United States Treasury Department in an effort to defraud them.

Here’s what to watch out for, according to authorities:

• The callers inform the victims of a “tax deficiency” or other made-up offense, and threaten imminent arrest, foreclosure, deportation, or other dire consequence unless the victims make immediate payment using pre-paid GreenDot debit cards.
• The telephone version of the scam usually involves a male caller who sometimes speaks in broken English with a a heavy accent.
• The caller informs the resident that they own back taxes or other monies to the Federal Government. If they fail to make immediate payment they are threatened with arrest.
• The most recent phone calls scams are portrayed by the caller stating that they are calling from the IRS, US Treasury Department, or a Federal Magistrates Court.
• The call could also be a recorded message. Phone numbers associated with the latest robo calling are: (315)-879-6842, (229)-231-3343, (302)-927-7841, (862)-800-0234.
• In addition to the victims’ telephone numbers or electronic mail addresses, the criminals often have pieces of the victims’ other identifying information, such as name, address or the last four digits of your social security number, which they use to make their attempts appear more authentic.

If you are contacted by one of these scammers, hang up immediately and call police to report the incident.