Local law enforcement agencies are warning residents to beware of a recent IRS scam where opportunistic fraudsters have been contacting local residents, demanding payment.
The Louisville Police Department and Winston County Sheriff’s office issued an alert recently after local residents received automated calls claiming the resident could be arrested for tax evasion, officials said in a statement.
When the resident calls the number back, a person posing as an IRS agent states they owe taxes and are asked to provide the name and address
“You have IRS Joseph Barfield,” said the person on the line when the newspaper called the scam number.
After the newspaper reporter asked questions of “Barfield” he said that about 10,000 people a week return the call from the automated message and the goal is to get $5,000 out of each caller.
The scammers demanded payment in the form of gift cards or other electronic means to avoid arrest.
Police officials noted that "there are dozens of scams and confidence tricks that fraudsters use, but the goal is the same: they want to steal your money."
In response, the Louisville Police Department offered a handful of tips for local residents to avoid becoming a victim:
•Never give your personal or bank information to anyone over the telephone, unless you know who you are talking to and the company they work for, and you are engaged in a willing and voluntary transaction;
•Don't give in to pressure to take immediate action;
•Hang up on suspicious phone calls;
•Verify information before taking action; ask family members or trusted friends for help or law enforcement.
"Scammers often work by wire transfer. If you are asked to wire money or purchase and give the information from a moneycard, it is probably a scam."
Editor’s note: The newspaper staff called the number 11 times asking questions about the scam before receiving any answers. Information from the scammer should not be taken as fact but is the information provided to the newspaper in the call.
