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Police warn of IRS scam

Callers seek tax payments

BUTLER TWP — Township and state police are warning residents to be aware of telephone calls from scammers claiming to be with the IRS.

The scammers demand payments from a taxpayer or they say a police officer will come to their home and arrest the person.

These kinds of false calls have been made to dozens and dozens of Butler County residents this week.

Police said it is not the policy of the IRS to make contact by telephone for any issues, including unpaid taxes or fines.

“This has been a problem since last spring,” said Chief John Hayes on Wednesday. “Today, on last count, we’ve received 30 calls.”

Hayes said his department typically receives a few calls per day from residents reporting scam calls.

Trooper Ron Keston said state police in the township also received a spike in calls on Wednesday from other parts of the county.

“It reached into the hundreds,” he said, adding he doesn’t believe any of the victims gave away personal information or were swindled out of money.

Hayes said there is little the police can do about the calls, as the scammers are most likely not from the area.

“More likely than not the calls are spoofed, and the caller is from out of the country somewhere,” he said.

Caller ID spoofing provides a false originating number to the receiver of the phone call. Hayes said he attempted to call one of the reported numbers and it continuously returned a busy signal.

Kesten said state police also tried two numbers.

“One just rang,” he said. “The other, a person answered then hung up.”

Kesten said the phony telephone numbers reported were 202-864-1883 and 202-864-1851.

Police warn residents never to provide any personal information to any unknown individuals, including birth dates, Social Security numbers and bank account information.

But the scamming is not limited to the county.

The IRS last month reported that 5,000 victims nationwide had been scammed out of more than $26.5 million since October 2013.

The agency recommends taxpayers who are contacted by phone scammers fill out an IRS impersonation scam form on the Treasury inspector general website, www.treasury.gov/tigta, or call Treasury officials at 800-366-4484.

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