Full Notification

The Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department warns citizens about “Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Scams” that have been common and will likely increase during tax season. This type of scam is intended to steal your money and/or personal information.

Typically a caller (scammer) impersonating the IRS will claim that you owe back taxes or have a warrant for your arrest due to non-payment and they will threaten you with arrest, jail time or license suspension if you don’t provide payment immediately. An alternative method is the scammer may claim you’re owed a refund from the IRS and request your personal information to process it. Be aware that the caller may use spoofing software that disguises the caller ID, and it could appear as the “Internal Revenue Service” or displays their phone number.

The scammer will often sound threatening and intimidating while instructing a victim to wire money or purchase a prepaid debit card and call back with the serial number. You should be aware, the scammer may already know the last 4 digits of your social security number, but do not be tricked into believing the authenticity of the scammer. Additionally the scammer may call repeatedly, leaving “urgent” messages and become increasingly aggressive.

The legitimate IRS will never call to demand immediate payment. The IRS provides notice in writing of delinquent taxes and penalties, and allows you to protest or appeal the amount owed. Furthermore the IRS will not ask for payment over the phone or threaten immediate arrest.

If a scammer calls you, do not engage the caller, rather hang up and do not return calls. Do not provide any personal or financial information. Do not wire money or provide prepaid debit card serial numbers or your own financial account information. If you receive a call and want to check the authenticity, call the IRS at their published phone number directly if you think you are delinquent or are owed a refund. Finally, you can report incidents to your local police department and/or the Attorney General’s Office. If you are a Town of Poughkeepsie resident, you can contact the police department at 845-485-3666.