Police Warn Pennsylvania Residents of IRS Phone Scams
The Pennsylvania State Police have been warning residents of those who are trying to commit fraud via an IRS phone scam. Apparently those on the phone pose as Internal Revenue Service tax collectors and tell people that they owe back taxes. Then, the scammers take payments over the phone, and utilize the individual’s banking information fraudulently. The scammers specifically state that they could go to jail if they do not pay this “debt” immediately.
Scams of this nature usually pick up during tax season, so law enforcement is urging those who receive this type of phone call to be wary. The IRS will not put people in jail in an attempt to collect taxes, and the IRS has specifically stated that they “do not work this way.” Law enforcement also warned individuals that these people may have publicly unavailable information, but that does not meant that individuals should trust them. They likely obtained this information illegally.
This type of scam is a crime, and those who fall victim usually do not have much hope of recovery. Instead, individuals should be on the alert for scams and use caution when giving out personal information. The Attorney General encourages citizens to report any information on potential scams to the Bureau of Consumer Protection at 800-441-2555.
Source: http://www.timesherald.com/general-news/20150320/pennsylvania-state-police-warn-public-of-irs-phone-scams
Governor Tom Wolf Places a Moratorium on the Death Penalty
As of February 13, 2015, Governor Wolf has placed a moratorium on the death penalty in Pennsylvania. The moratorium will remain in effect until the Governor “has received and reviewed the forthcoming report of the Pennsylvania Task Force and Advisory Commission on Capital Punishment.”
The Governor noted that his decision “is based on a flawed system that has been proven to be an endless cycle of court proceedings as well as ineffective, unjust and expensive.” He notes that “[s]ince the reinstatement of the death penalty, 150 people have been exonerated from death row nationwide, including six men in Pennsylvania.” State Senator Daylin Leach introduced a bill that would abolish the death penalty in Pennsylvania shortly after the Governor’s announcement.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, there are 183 men and 3 women currently on death row. The last execution that took place was in 1999. One critic of the moratorium notes that there hasn’t been a single person executed in 53 years in Pennsylvania that didn’t voluntarily give up their right to final appeal.
Regardless of one’s personal opinion of the death penalty, it is hard to deny the fact that the system that we have in place currently cannot get the final verdict correct 100% of the time. The long appeals process is a mechanism to avoid such a terrible error as killing an innocent person, but even that can be unsound in some instances.
For more information about criminal law penalties, speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney. Contact Mandracchia&McWhirk, LLC by calling 610-584-0700 for a free initial consultation.
Man Posing as an Attorney Steals $1,300 from “Client”
Last year, a man was arrested for pretending to be a lawyer. The man was at the Delaware County Courthouse facing charges for an assault case when he ran into a women who needed help finding a lawyer for her boyfriend. The man accepted the woman’s fee of $1,300 and promised to aid her boyfriend as his attorney.
He also apparently represented that he had an office in the Municipal Services Building at 15th and JFK Boulevard. He took her money, stating that he would be back after going to his office, but he never returned. He also did not respond to text messages, and hung up on her when she demanded that he return her money. She reported the incident to the Philadelphia Police Department, and they suspect that this may not be the first time that this has happened.The man is now being charged with theft by an unlawful taking, theft by deception, and receiving stolen property.
This theft charge is increased because the man represented that he was an attorney, an officer of the court. This type of offense is particularly troublesome because not only did he take money from this victim; he also inhibited the victim’s defense for her boyfriend. If she thought an attorney was working on the case, then she may not have engaged another attorney.
It is also possible that this whole case is misunderstanding. Both the victim and the man who was allegedly pretending to be an attorney should obtain lawyers to help them through this case. If you have been the victim of a crime or if you are charged with committing a crime, contact an experienced lawyer as soon as possible. The attorneys at Mandracchia and McWhirk are happy to help with your legal needs. Call 610-584-0700 today!
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Charles Mandracchia speaks about why you should never refuse a breathalyzer or blood test.. Contact us at 610-584-0700 if you have any questions or concerns.
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Charles Mandracchia speaks about DUI and DWI. Contact us at 610-584-0700 if you have any questions or concerns.
