FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT

Major Lafayette Woods, Jr.

Operation Commander/Public Information Officer

870.541.5351-OFFICE/870.329.5652-CELL

Email: lafayette.woods@jeffcoso.org

JCSO WARNS OF IRS TAX SCAM CIRCULATING IN JEFF. CO: Jefferson County, Arkansas - January 24, 2018-The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office is warning about an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) phone scam circulating in Jefferson County.

“To date, our office has received at least three calls and one visit from a would-be victim that stated that he received a recorded message on his telephone from someone claiming to be from the IRS Headquarters,” said Major Lafayette Woods, Jr.

 

During the recorded message, the caller stated that the call was an attempt to discuss serious allegations associated with the would-be victim’s name. The recording further stated that if the victim failed to call (470) 440-1653 within 24-hours that he would be taken into custody by local law enforcement.

 

"The IRS will never contact taxpayers by phone, only by mail. If you get a suspicious call from an individual or recording claiming to be from the IRS that demands payment or threatens arrest, you’re advised to hang up and to not give out any personal information,” Woods said.

 

As an additional reminder, 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.

 

• 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.

To report suspicious calls of this type, contact IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting Hotline at (800) 366-4484, the Arkansas Attorney General Consumer Protection Hotline at (800) 482-8982, or our Criminal Investigation Division at (870) 541-5496.