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 residents 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 people 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 your information illegally.
This type of IRS phone scam is a crime, and those who fall victim usually do not have much hope of recovering the money. 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.