Shrewsbury residents are reporting several calls by someone pretending to be from the IRS trying to get their personal or financial information.
Shrewsbury Mass - The Shrewsbury Police Department has received multiple reports from residents who have been contacted by phone by scam artists pretending to be the IRS. These criminals will claim you owe the IRS money for unpaid taxes and will try to pressure you into giving them your personal and financial information. DO NOT FALL FOR THIS; this is a scam. They may even threaten you with arrest or property seizure if you do not pay. They may also call and pose as the IRS asking to verify your tax return information over the phone. The IRS does not contact people in this manner.
These thieves are targeting people with the IRS scam now because it’s tax season. These thieves also target specifically senior citizens. This is just another example of the multiple ways scam artists will try to steal from you. Do not be fooled. Never disclose your personal information, particularly your birth date or social security number.
From the IRS website themselves, there are five clear giveaways that a call is a scam. (https://www.irs.gov/uac/IRS-Urges-Public-to-Stay-Alert-for-Scam-Phone-Calls)
1. The IRS will not call to demand immediate payment, nor will they call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill.
2. The IRS will not demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.
3. The IRS will not require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card.
4. The IRS will not ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
5. The IRS will not threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.
Here is the IRs's YouTube video on the subject - https://youtu.be/0y5z0kWgBcM
If you are contacted by one of these scammers, NO NOT GIVE THEM ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION. Make note of the date, time and phone number that called you, and any other pertinent information. Then HANG UP. Report this to the Shrewsbury Police, and/or to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov.
If you receive an email supposedly from the IRS; DO NOT CLICK ON OR OPEN ANY FILE ATTACHMENTS. Forward these emails to phishing@IRS.Gov
For more information regarding the IRS scam, please go to the IRS website; www.irs.gov .
If you have already fallen victim to this scam by giving them money or personal information, please contact the Shrewsbury Police Department ASAP.