The Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Department wants to make the public aware of recent reports involving an IRS Impersonation scam. Our office received two reports of this activity within a few hours of each other. In each case a voice mail was left on the residents phone indicating the caller was from the IRS and told them they owe taxes. They were told they must pay these taxes using a pre-paid debit card or wire transfer. The scammers threaten those who refuse to pay with arrest, deportation or loss of a business or driver license.
The U.S. Treasury department is aware of this scam and has provided a webpage to victims to report the incident. It can be found at: www.treasury.gov/tigta/contact
The website also provides beneficial information to the public to aid in identifying potential IRS scammers.
Note that the IRS will never:
• Call to demand immediate payment, nor will the agency call you about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill.
• Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.
• Require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a pre-paid debit card.
• Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
• Threaten to bring in local police or other law enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.
If you receive calls of this nature we urge you to not provide any personal or financial information to the caller. Contact your local law enforcement agency or the IRS.