Continued IRS phone scams received throughout the County

Date:     May 27, 2015
Subject: IRS Phone Scams

The Mono County Sheriff's Office continues to receive reports from residents throughout Mono County of recent phone scams from the Internal Revenue Service. We want to make everyone aware of the current phone scams you may continue to experience.

The current phone scams that Mono County residents are experiencing include callers representing themselves as IRS agents. This is an aggressive and sophisticated phone scam. The callers claim to be representatives of the IRS. They are very convincing when they call. They will use a fake name and a bogus IRS identification badge number. The caller does know a lot of information about their target; thus, making you feel it is a legit call. The caller will also alter caller ID to make it look as if the IRS is actually calling.

These callers will tell you that money is owed to the IRS and it must be paid promptly through a pre-loaded debit card or wire transfer. If you refuse to cooperate with the caller, they then threaten you with arrest, deportation and/or suspension of your business or driver’s license. If you don’t answer your phone, the caller will leave a message with an “urgent” call back request or threaten that you will be sued if you don’t return their call. One of the numbers that has been reported on messages is (206) 462-5330 out of the Seattle area.

Please remember the following: the IRS will never call to demand immediate payment or call you regarding 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 tax payment; ask for your credit or debit card numbers over the phone; or, threaten to bring in the local police or other law enforcement agency to have you arrested for non-payment.

The Mono County Sheriff's Office wants you to be aware of these phone scams. They continue to happen and the callers are starting to become more aggressive in their demeanor to obtain your personal information. Never give personal information and credit card information over the phone. You should monitor your credit reports and your credit card and bank statements on a regular basis! Keep your identity and information protected! If you further question the validity of the call, contact your local IRS Office before providing any personal or payment information. 

If you would like to report any suspicious phone scams or verify that you have been a victim of a phone scam, please contact us at (760) 932-7549. - Jennifer M. Hansen, Public Information Officer