The New Garden Township Police Department issued a warning on Wednesday, Dec. 16, about an IRS scam that cost an elderly township resident more than $10,000.
The department said the victim contacted police on Monday, Dec. 14, after becoming suspicious of a phone call received earlier that day, reportedly from the IRS, a press release said.
The victim told police he answered a call from a person identifying themselves as an IRS agent at 9 a.m. and was threatened with arrest for tax evasion, an outcome that could be avoided if the money were paid immediately. The suspect instructed the victim to remain on the phone while giving instructions to go to two financial institutions and withdraw money from his bank account, the release said.
The suspect then told the victim to go to five different locations to send the money to a designated location through MoneyGram. About an hour after the final transaction – and eight hours after the initial call – the victim became concerned and contacted police. The victim told police the suspect, who had a thick foreign accent, called both his home phone and cellphone numbers, the release said.
While the department’s Criminal Investigation Division follows up on the incident, police want to remind the public that the IRS will not ever call a citizen and demand payment on the spot. For more crime alerts and tips, visit www.ngpd.org.
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