- November 18, 2024
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Scammers pretending to be IRS agents have been calling local residents, demanding money and claiming law enforcement action would be taken if victims don’t hand it over, according to a news release from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
“This is one of hundreds of scams we deal with on a regular basis,” Sheriff James L. Manfre said in the news release. “We want the public to be aware of this scam and remember not to give money or information to anyone over the phone or on the Internet.”
The scammers have told residents they must pay the debt immediately by a wire transfer or prepaid debit card. When victims refuse to cooperate, according to the news release, the scammers become hostile and threaten to have them arrested or have their driver’s license revoked.
Sometimes the scammers use fake names and badge numbers.
They sometimes know the last four digits of the victim’s social security number, and can even trick the victim’s caller ID into indicating the call is coming from the IRS or some other agency.
Here’s what you should do, according to the release, if you get a call from someone claiming to be from the IRS: If you know you owe taxes or think you might, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.
If you know or believe that you don’t owe any taxes, report the call to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 1-800-366-4484.
If you have been targeted by this scam, also contact the Federal Trade Commission and use their “FTC Complaint Assistant” at FTC.gov.
For more information, visit irs.gov.
