On 6/26/2014 a resident of Sea Girt received a phone call from a phone number they did not recognize.  A voice mail was left.  The message was in a computerized voice indicating it was the Internal Revenue Service and they were attempting to collect a debt.  They were urged not to ignore this message and to call the number listed in the message immediately.

This incident is a scam.  The scam targets people and demands the victim to use a prepaid debit card, wire transfer, or credit card to settle the debt.  Often threats are used to take away the persons home, business, or driving privileges.

The scam artists will use the telephone to make contact with their victim.  The Internal Revenue Service will contact people by postal mail and not by telephone.

The scammers will usually require the payments to be made using a prepaid debit card, wire transfer, or credit card.  The IRS will not use these payment methods for settling a debt.

The following tips will help protect yourself from these types of scams:

  • Do not provide any account or personal information.
  • Never wire money to any person or company you do not know.
  • If you owe money, or think you owe money to the IRS for federal taxes, call the IRS 800-829-1040 or visit the website for the IRS at irs.gov
  • File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/complaint

For more information on the IRS Scam please refer to the Federal Trade Commission Scam Blog at www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/fake-irs-collectors-are-calling.