Fraud Alert: Active #PhoneScam In Portland Claiming To Be IRS - Do Not Provide Information Or Money (Photo) -02/28/18

The Portland Police Bureau is continuing to receive reports where victims stated that someone claiming to be with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) called them and demanded money for back taxes. Community members have received phone calls in which someone claims to be from the "Tax Fraud Department" of the IRS. The caller claimed the victims owed money to the IRS and if they did not pay, the County Sheriff would make an arrest. Similar scams have been reported in the past year where callers claim to be with a utility or other government agency demanding money. In another scam, the caller states, "... You will be taken under custody by the local cops as there are four serious allegations pressed on your name at this moment. We would request you to get back to us so that we can discuss this case before taking any legal action against you..." If you question the authenticity of a call asking for payment, hang up and contact the utility or government agency directly. "Please remember to remain on guard against fraudulent calls. If you receive one, hang up, and report the call immediately," said J. Russell George, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). "This is a crime of opportunity, so the best thing you can do to protect yourself is to take away the opportunity," the Inspector General added. "If someone unexpectedly calls claiming to be from the IRS and uses threatening language if you do not pay immediately, that is a sign that it is not the IRS calling, and your cue to hang up," he said. "Again, do not engage with these callers. If they call you, hang up the telephone." You may fill out the "IRS Impersonation scam" form on TIGTA's website, http://www.treasury.gov/tigta , or call TIGTA at 1-800-366-4484. Tips to help avoid becoming a victim to this scam include: * The Portland Police Bureau or any other legitimate law enforcement agency does not call community members seeking payment for outstanding traffic citations or warrants. This includes claims of unpaid federal or state taxes. * The Portland Police Bureau does not call individuals and demand money from community members under any circumstances. * Individuals claiming to collect debts may try to instill fear in potential victims to persuade them to forward money. * Never give personal or financial information to an unsolicited caller or email. * Be suspicious of callers who demand immediate payment for any reason. * Utility companies and government agencies will never contact you for payment by GreenDot, MoneyPak or Vanilla Reload. * Remember that anyone who has the number on a prepaid card has access to the funds on your card. * Never wire money, provide debit or credit card numbers to a stranger. MoneyPak/Green Dot and Vanilla Reload have online tools to allow purchasers to request a refund if the scammer has not yet cashed the card. For more information, please visit https://www.moneypak.com/refundrequest.aspx for MoneyPak/Green Dot and https://www.vanillareload.com/index.php/refund for Vanilla Reload. If you are a resident of Portland and fall victim to these scammers with financial loss, you are encouraged to file a report by calling the Portland Police Bureau's Non-Emergency line at (503) 823-3333. Resources are available for consumers to avoid becoming victims of scams and fraud at the Oregon Department of Justice. Information can be found online at: https://www.doj.state.or.us/consumer-protection/ or call 1-877-877-9392. ###PPB###