By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Local law enforcement agencies have recently gotten a large number of reports from members of the public who have received phone calls from scammers attempting to trick people into sending them money or revealing personal information.
The bogus collection calls are coming from numerous long distance phone numbers, according to Centralia Police Department detective Patty Finch.
“The callers are identifying themselves as the IRS or warrant service companies,” Finch stated in a press release yesterday. “In most reports, the callers are telling the victims that a warrant has been issued for their arrest or they are being sued.”
The Centralia Police Department, the Chehalis Police Department and the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office have all been getting reports from potential victims, Finch said.
Some scammers are requesting peoples’ credit card information over the telephone.
The Internal Revenue Service does not telephone individuals to demand immediate payment and does not require a specific method of payment such as a prepaid debit card, a gift card or a wire transfer. Generally, the federal agency will first mail taxpayers a bill if any taxes are owed.
The IRS will never ask for credit card or debit card numbers over the phone.
Finch cautions members of the public to use caution when speaking with any callers and to never provide bank card information until after independently confirming a request is legitimate.
For more information about various tax scams, check the IRS website, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Confident that was a phone company employee? Question anyone who has caused you confusion distress or fear whose offering a resolution by taking a payment.
Lenice, when the phone rings and you don’t know the number, you are not required to answer it.
Even if your number is on the do-not-call list, there are s-heads who will keep trying to hook you with crap.
the telephone company told me not to answer any numbers I do not know