Consumer Agencies Warn Residents About IRS Phone Scam
By Kim Glovas
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Consumer agencies are alerting residents about the latest phone scam to hit the region. Callers allegedly claim they are with the Internal Revenue Service.
Bucks County's Director of Consumer Protection Michael Bannon says this is an old scam which seems to be making a re-appearance. Residents are even getting calls on their cell phones. Bannon says usually the calls come in on the answering machine, and the caller says they are with the IRS, and you owe money.
"They are very abusive, they strong-arm saying we are going to send someone out to arrest you if you don't pay it right away and unfortunately people have fallen for that," said Bannon.
Bannon says the IRS never contacts people by telephone, only by registered mail or other traceable methods. He says if you receive such a call, contact the Treasury Inspector General in Washington, D.C. at 1-800-366-4484.