The Canton Police Department has recently taken several reports from citizens stating they’ve received calls from someone representing themselves as an IRS agent. The “agent” demands personal information and/or payments for taxes owed via unusual methods such as pre-paid debit cards or wire transfers. The caller ID displays as IRS, Washington D.C. If the citizen declines to participate in the conversation, the “agent” will begin to threaten him/her with police involvement. On a few occasions, after the citizen had ended the phone call, a second call came in with Canton Police Department displayed on the caller ID.
Federal and local law enforcement officials are warning citizens about this large, fast-moving scam targeting tax payers across the country. Victims are reporting threats of license suspension, arrest and deportation unless they pay up.
“Criminals are altering caller ID displays to read out as IRS, or Canton Police Department, bringing a believability factor to what citizens might otherwise recognize immediately as a scam phone call,” says Special Services Lt. Craig Wilsher.
“The most important thing to remember if you receive a phone call from someone representing themselves as IRS or local law enforcement is that neither would ask for your personal information over the phone. Nor would they request a tax payment (or any payment) in the form of a wire transfer or pre-paid debit card,” Wilsher adds.
If you receive one of these phone calls law enforcement officials recommend contacting your local police department or the IRS directly. The IRS can be reached at 800-829-1040, the Canton Police Department at 734-394-5400.