Advisory: Be Alert to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Scams targeting local residents
Dear Nixle User,
The Northfield Twp Police department is advising our residents to be aware of scams perpetrated by people who are posing as Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agents.
One scam may call a resident and tell them that they owe a large sum of money to the IRS and that failure to make timely payment of the debt will result in a criminal warrant issued for their arrest. The scammer then tells the resident that they must purchase pre-paid (GreenDot) money cards which have a unique tracking number printed on the back. The scammer then advises the resident that he/she will call back in two hours to record the tracking number. Once the scammer has the tracking number, he/she is able to access the funds, thereby profiting from the scam.
A second scam uses a pre-recorded call claiming to be the IRS, stating this was their final attempt to reach you or they would be filing suit. The message further requests you return their call to avoid further actions.
Please do not fall prey to either scam. The IRS will NEVER contact you by phone to collect on debts. Simply hang-up on the caller.
To protect yourself from imposters who call, claiming to be from the IRS:
•don’t provide any account or other personal information. Hang up the phone.
•never wire money to a person or company you don’t know. Once you wire money, you can’t get it back.
•if you owe - or think you owe - federal taxes, call the IRS at 800-829-1040. IRS workers can help you with your payment questions. You also can visit the IRS website at irs.gov.
• if you’ve already paid your taxes, call and report the incident to TIGTA at 800-366-4484.
• forward emails from the IRS to [email protected]. Don’t open any attachments or click on any links in those emails.
• file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/complaint. Include “IRS Telephone Scam" in your complaint.
NEVER give personal information over the phone unless you initiate the call and/or are sure of the recipient. The IRS does not ask for PIN’s, passwords or confidential information on credit card or bank accounts
