Criminals are constantly finding new ways to con Americans out of money, and we had a phone call come into the West Bend News from a local gentleman stating he received a phone call from a person claiming to be from the IRS threatening him with a warrant.
When we think about things happening we never want to believe it can or will happen to us or in our area, especially in a small community such as Antwerp. This is proof it can happen any where. And it is not only by phone that they might try to contact you, they may also use email, phishing or malware to try to get to you.
A few tips to keep in mind that the IRS will never do.
• The IRS will never call to demand immediate payment using a specific method such as a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer, generally, the IRS will first mail you a bill if you owe any taxes.
• The IRS will never threaten to immediately bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.
• The IRS will never demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.
• The IRS will never ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
Criminals are constantly changing their methods to try and take advantage of people and the IRS is not the only scam that they use. Please stay cautious and alert and if you have any suspicions contact your local authorities.
