The Davis Police Department received a report of an IRS phone scam this week. This scam involved instructing the victim to purchase iTunes gift cards as a way to cover taxes due to an audit. Officers have taken similar cases in the past that involve Green Dot MoneyPak prepaid cards.
Here are some things the scammers often do but the IRS will not do. Any one of these five things is a tell-tale sign of a scam.
The IRS will never:
• Call to demand immediate payment over the phone, nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having mailed you several bills.
• Call or email you to verify your identity by asking for personal and financial information.
• Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.
• Require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card or gift card.
• Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone or email.
• Threaten to immediately bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.
If you have any questions about the legitimacy of a phone call, please contact the Davis Police Department at 530-747-5400.