Deputies warn of ‘IRS’ scam targeting Merced
Merced County sheriff’s deputies on Thursday issued a warning to residents regarding a new telephone scam involving people claiming to work for the Internal Revenue Service.
“We’ve been getting numerous reports of the IRS calling to collect debt. However, it is a scam,” Sgt. Delray Shelton said. “It informs people they owe back taxes and if they do not pay them, a warrant will be issued for their arrest.”
The phone number associated with the scam is (888) 372-3182.
When contacted Thursday by the Merced Sun-Star, a man answered the call saying, “Internal Revenue Service, how can I help you?” However, the operator immediately disconnected the call after learning it was a news media inquiry.
“We are getting an increasing amount of these calls from the community,” Shelton said. “We are advising people to hang up on the caller and do not give out any of their information.”
Similar bogus IRS calls have come from across the country for several years.
“The IRS will always send taxpayers a written notification of any tax due via the U.S. mail. The IRS never asks for credit card, debit card or prepaid card information over the telephone,” the agency said in a prior news release.
For more information or to report a scam, go to www.irs.gov and type “scam” in the search box.
This story was originally published December 11, 2014 at 12:22 PM with the headline "Deputies warn of ‘IRS’ scam targeting Merced."