Telephone scammers continue to call Santa Cruz County residents posing as IRS agents, demanding that consumers make immediate “late tax” payments or suffer arrest and possible jail. This scam is being reported nationwide and continues to trick many people into making payments to criminals. The Internal Revenue Service does not call taxpayers by phone to discuss tax payments.
If the number on your phone screen is not recognized, consumers are urged to let the call go to voice mail. Do not return the call if the person says that they are from the IRS.
Criminals use threats of arrest and jail time to coerce immediate payments by means of Western Union, Money Gram, wire transfers or pre-paid debit cards. Consumers receiving a call from someone claiming to be an IRS agent should immediately hang up. Consumers should report these calls to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 800-366-4484 or at www.tigta.gov.
Consumers who have lost money to this scam should report it to the police or fill out a Consumer Complaint form found on the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office website by clicking the Consumer Fraud tab or by calling the Santa Cruz County Consumer Fraud & Environmental Protection Unit at (831) 454-2050.
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Reported by the Consumer Fraud & Environmental Protection Unit