State Police Detectives are warning the public of a scam that has moved into Indiana. The scam involves individuals claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service.
Officials are investigating the phone scam involving callers impersonating an IRS representative demanding immediate payments with pre-paid debit cards and wire transfers.
The caller often claims the victim owes thousands of dollars in overdue taxes.
IRS officials say the agency would always make contact with the taxpayer first by mail or by a personal visit.
The scam continues when the caller tells the victim he cannot use standard forms of payment, specifically a credit card to pay the taxes. The caller attempts to justify why the money has to be wired to a PayPal account or paid using a prepaid debit card.
If payment demands are unsuccessful, the scammer will then threaten the victim with an arrest warrant. The IRS does not have authority to issue a warrant.
Similar to other scams, the calls originate from cell phones or over the internet from all over the United States. Tracking the scammers down is no easy task.
Officers hope the public being informed is the best defense in combating scammers. They remind the community that phone scams are becoming common place.
If you feel that you have been a victim of a scam contact the Treasury Inspector General on the web here.
