Scammers Are Reportedly Impersonating IRS Agents

The Internal Revenue Service has issued a warning about a scam currently spreading through San Bernardino County. They warn people to beware of people who are calling and emailing residents and impersonating IRS agents.

Below is the information released by the IRS along with some tips on how to handle the situation.

The criminals may have tampered with your telephone Caller ID to make it appear as if the IRS is calling. These callers may state that you owe delinquent taxes and threaten arrest, deportation, and/or suspension of your driver’s license unless you provide payment over the telephone through pre-loaded debit cards or wire transfers.

They may call back numerous times and pretend to be Law Enforcement or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officials or send you an email claiming to be from the IRS and they need to collect a debt. This is a scam!

The IRS recommends that you:

• Politely ask for their call back information and then hang up.
• Do not open any attachments in unexpected emails that say they are from the IRS.
• Never give a caller any personal or financial information.
• Contact the IRS directly if you have concerns about your account.
• Know that the IRS, Law Enforcement, and USCIS do not initiate contact through email, text messages or social media.
• Be aware that the IRS will never ask for your PIN, password, or confidential access information for your credit or bank accounts.

If you think you may be a victim of a scam, agents ask you contact (877) 565-2020, or your local police department.