Crime & Safety
Police Warn: Don't Fall for 'Massive' Tax Scam
Scam artists are threatening with calls of arrest, deportation, police say.
It's tax season and Fairfax County Police are warning residents not to be taken in by what they are calling a "massive" tax scam.
“Your driver’s license has been suspended. You will be arrested. You will be deported. We are on our way to your home right now.”
These are just a few of the many threats that scammers are making against hundreds of Fairfax County residents over the past several weeks, police said Monday in a news release. Police warn the public NOT to fall prey to these scammers and to notify police of these criminal incidents.
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These telephone scammers are described as demanding, aggressive, threatening, and easily angered when callers don’t immediately agree to their demands of “overdue tax balances.”
Some complainants have described the suspect’s as having a heavy accent. Typically, callers demand between $4,000-$6,000 in immediate payment of unpaid tax bills. These scams are sophisticated and involve false names, numbers and “IRS” badge numbers. Suspects often continue to call and harass the recipient.
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Police urge residents to:
- Contact the IRS if you feel there is any discrepancy with your tax bills.
- Use these numbers to contact IRS if you feel you are being scammed: http://www.irs.gov/uac/Telephone-Assistance
- Be skeptical if someone asks/demands you owe taxes and must pay with a Green Dot Moneypack.
- Report suspicious or harassing calls to police online at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/120413citizenreportingsystem.htm
- Remember, once money has been wired/sent, it is impossible to recover.
- More information on common scams may be found at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/financialcrimes/commonscams.htm
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