Scammers target Folsom residents with phony IRS calls

Folsom police report that tax time has brought out scammers trying to bilk residents of money.

A handful of Folsom residents have been targeted by telephone calls that show a phony Internal Revenue Service caller identification. The ploy is being used in states around the nation.

The caller threatens to arrest, deport or cancel a license if taxes are not paid. Payment is demanded with a pre-paid debit card or a wire transfer.

The IRS does not ask for payment over the telephone – or by using pre-paid debit cards or wire transfers. The IRS usually first contacts a taxpayer by mail.

The callers who commit the fraud often use bogus IRS badge numbers, know the last four digits of the taxpayer’s Social Security number, send fake IRS e-mails to support their scam and call a second time claiming to be the police or from the state department of motor vehicles.

This story was originally published March 9, 2015 at 8:20 AM.