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IRS Scam

Posted on: August 1, 2016 - 1:00pm

The Dobbs Ferry Police Department has recently become aware of another pervasive IRS Scam that is making its way across the country. Several residents have reported receiving messages from an automated phone system that leaves a message asking for people to return the phone call to a number with an out-of-state area code.

The automated message claims to be a caller from the IRS and is informing residents that they owe back taxes. The victims may be threatened with an arrest, deportation, or suspension of a business or driver’s license. In many cases the callers can be aggressive and insulting.

The Dobbs Ferry Police wish to remind you that the IRS will never:

  • Call to demand payment, nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having contacted you via the mail
  • Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe
  • Require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card or itunes card.
  • Ask for a credit or debit card number over the phone, or  Threaten to bring in local police or law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.
  • Additionally, legitimate IRS Agents are assigned a badge number. The IRS recommends that you ask for the badge number and then call 1-800-829-1040 to confirm it.

The IRS recommends that you do the following to avoid becoming a victim:

Call the IRS if you think or know you owe taxes,  Report the call to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 1(800)366-4484, and Contact the Federal Trade Commission.