Scammers Pose as IRS Agents, Law Enforcement to Trick Citizens, Authorities Say

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office is warning citizens of a scam in which suspects pose as IRS agents and law enforcement officials to steal money.

Suspects involved in the scam tell victims that they have a past due balance on federal tax filings. Scammers then urge the victims to load money on a prepaid card and call the scammers back with the PIN number for the card.

Suspects threaten the victim with arrest if he or she does not agree to pay immediately, the sheriff’s office said in a release.

Scammers may know a lot about their victims, the IRS said. The IRS also warned that the scammer may become hostile and insulting.

A similar recent scam is also under investigation. Scammers request the same prepaid money card and PIN, but instead say the victim needs to pay bail for failing to appear in a grand jury.

Sheriffs said scammers go to great lengths to appear legitimate. They have reportedly introduced themselves as a “sergeant" with the "St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Warrant Division.” Authorities also said scammers' voicemail recordings direct victims to hang up and dial 911 if the call is an emergency, much like a legitimate law enforcement office would.

According to the SMCSO, neither the sheriff’s office nor the IRS call with threats of arrest for missed fines.

The sheriff’s office advises you to hang up immediately if you receive a call like those described. Never provide personal information over the phone, they said.

Authorities also ask citizens to share this warning and alert elderly men and women who may not regularly use the internet. The elderly are typically most vulnerable to this type of scam.

St. Mary’s sheriffs urge citizens to visit the IRS website for further detail.

The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration is responsible for investigating this scam. Follow this link to report this scam or any knowledge of it.

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