IRS warns of new phone scam


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SALT LAKE CITY — The Internal Revenue Service is warning residents not to fall victim to a new phone scam.

In this scam, victims, including recent immigrants to the U.S., receive a call from someone claiming to be from the IRS. The caller tells the victim they owe money and must pay it immediately with a preloaded debit card or wire transfer, according to a statement from the IRS.

If the prospective victim refuses, the caller threatens deportation, arrest or suspension of a business or driver's license.

Acting Commissioner Danny Werfel said the IRS will never ask for someone's credit card number over the phone or request a prepaid debit card or wire transfer.

The warning is the latest in a series of recent similar phone scams.

Last week, the Summit County Sheriff's Office issued a warning to residents of a scheme. Detectives say someone has recently been calling residents claiming to be "Maj. Thomas Wilson" from its warrant division and falsely informing them that warrants for their arrest have been issued for failing to show up for jury duty. The fake officer then tells the resident that in order to avoid being arrested, they need to send money to a designated address.

Detectives believe the scammer is the same person who tried a similar scheme with residents in Park City and parts of Colorado. Police say residents need to know legitimate officers will never ask someone to settle a debt or warrant over the phone.


Residents who receive calls from a possible IRS scam are asked to call 800-366-4484.

Another scam was reported in Davis County in January. Investigators said a person would call potential victims and claim to be from a Davis County agency and tell them there is a credit problem or bounced check, and that the person needs to wire money or send a debit card number immediately or risk being arrested.

Residents who receive calls from a possible IRS scam are asked to call 800-366-4484.

Residents who receive a call from someone claiming to be an officer or from a warrant division and demand money should contact their local law enforcement agency.

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Pat Reavy

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