YORK COUNTY, Pa. – The York County Elderly Abuse Task Force has issued the following Fraud Alert:
Be aware of IRS impersonators. They are targeting our elderly population. Usually, the victim will receive an unsolicited call from someone claiming to be an IRS official. The victim is told that he/she owes taxes and must pay immediately using cash, a pre-paid debit card, money order, or a wire transfer from a bank account. The IRS impersonators are often aggressive and relentless. These scammers threaten victims with criminal charges, immediate arrest, deportation, or loss of a business or driver’s license.
Warning Signs:
* You receive a call from someone claiming to be from the IRS
The IRS generally first contacts people by mail – not by phone – about unpaid taxes.
* The caller uses a common name and fake IRS badge number.
* The caller may know the last four digits of your Social Security Number.
* The caller ID information may appear as if the IRS is calling.
* The caller aggressively demands immediate payment to avoid being criminally charged or arrested.
The IRS will not ask for payment using a prepaid debit card, a money order or a wire transfer. The IRS will never ask for a credit card number over the phone, by e-mail, text, or any social media.
* The caller claims that hanging up the telephone will cause the immediate issuance of an arrest warrant for unpaid taxes.
* The caller may also send an email address to support their claim that they are calling from the IRS.
What to do:
* Hang up the telephone.
* Fill out the “IRS Impersonation scam” form at http://www.tigta.gov or call TIGTA at 800-366-4484.
* Forward scam e-mails to phishing @irs.gov. Do not open any attachments or click on any links in these e-mails
