Law enforcement agencies and the Internal Revenue Service are warning residents of a scam that primarily affects the elderly.
Churchill County Sheriff Ben Trotter said his office has been swamped with calls regarding the latest IRS scam.
“I’ve received numerous calls recently of the IRS Scam getting pretty heavy locally,” Trotter said. “The scam is generally directed at the elderly … the person receives a call from someone claiming to be with the IRS and claiming the person is somehow delinquent on their duties with the IRS. There is often a threat that ‘we will come to get you’ or ‘we will freeze your assets’ or other similar extortion threats.
Capt. Vern Ulrich said the Fallon Police Department has also received calls about the scam.
“Use due diligence and don’t take a call from the IRS,” Ulrich said.
He said all the people that have called the FPD did not fall for the scam.
Trotter added that the IRS does not operate in this manner.
“The calls that have been going around for over a year in our community that resemble this are a scam meant to extort money from the person being called,” he said, “Law enforcement advises not to provide any personal information, bank information or credit card information and not to send any money to anyone on any call of this nature.”
According to the Internal Revenue Service in San Diego, the office has also received calls from Washoe County Sheriff’s Office regarding the latest scam.
The IRS said it will never do the following:
Call to demand immediate payment, nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill
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
Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone
Threaten to bring in local police or other law enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying
According to the IRS, fraudulent callers often alter caller ID numbers to make it look like the IRS is calling and will identify themselves by using fake names and bogus IRS badge numbers.
The caller may sound convincing and know the victim’s name, address, or
other identifying information that is often easily obtainable through resources available to the public.
To report an incident to the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, call 1-800-366-4484.