ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ) – Complaints continue to be filed with Ashwaubenon Public Safety from people who are falling victim to the IRS scam.
“One of the important things that we want people to know is that if they’re not expecting a call from the IRS, they’re not getting a call from the IRS,” said Captain Jody Crocker with Ashwaubenon Public Safety.
In the past few days, officials say more victims reported that they were instructed to wire money from their bank accounts and then further to get $3,000 in gift cards or ITunes, Green Dot, or other gift cards and transfer those to them for payment.
In all, these victims are out more than $10,000. Crocker says they were of Middle Eastern or North African descent.
“When the scammers were talking to them, they actually talked to them in their own language,” Crocker says. “We know it’s a nationwide problem, but if we can get this word out to people that can help other people and encourage them to make those contacts and tell these people what is happening here.”
The IRS has seen a huge surge in these phone scams as the callers threaten arrest by the police, deportation and license revocation among other things.
Both Ashwaubenon Public Safety and the IRS urge you to not give out any information and to hang up immediately if you do get a call. You’re also asked to contact the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at (800) 366-4484.
