Several local police departments issued warnings this week about phony scams that are targeting residents across Middlesex County.
South Brunswick police have taken several reports about an automated message from someone claiming to be from the Department of Treasury. Residents report that the caller ID shows the calls are coming from a 201 area code and may appear on your caller ID as AARP, according to a statement released by the police department.
Milltown Police received approximately 30 calls from residents on Feb. 1 regarding an IRS scam.The caller identifies himself as Dennis Quaid of the IRS and advises that money is owed on back taxes.He then tells the victim that they need to wire him money or the police department will come to their home with an arrest warrant, according to a press release from the police department.
The East Brunswick Police Department also fielded phone calls of a similar nature to South Brunswick and Milltown. The caller threatens police or federal action if money for back taxes are not paid, sometimes identifying himself as David Grey from the United States Treasury Department.
The departments advised residents to hang up the phone and not provide personal information or send any money if such a call is received.
The IRS will not call to demand immediate payment, call about taxes without sending a bill first in the mail, demand the payment of taxes without asking questions first or appealing the amount that is owed, require that taxes be paid a certain way, ask for a credit or debit card number over the phone or threaten to bring police or other agencies in to make an arrest.
To report a suspicious phone call, contact TIGTA using its “IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting” web page or call 800-366-4484. Or, use the “FTC Complaint Assistant” on FTC.gov and add “IRS Telephone Scam” in the notes.
