IRS scam reported to police
A Canonsburg woman told borough police that she got a call from a man claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service who told her that if she did not pay the money she owed within 30 minutes she would be arrested and go to jail for a year.
The caller even provided her with a telephone number for local law enforcement that he referred to as “PA Washington County” that was actually for the Washington County sheriff’s office.
The woman told Sgt. Loren Cochran Thursday that the number on her caller ID came up as IRS. A man identifying himself as Michael Johnson told her she owned $3,000. He also told her the call was being recorded and she was in “willful and intentional” violation. He then reportedly started yelling at her, increasing the amount owed to $19,000 because of court costs.
Johnson also told the woman she was being disrespectful and would be arrested if she did not provide the money in the next 30 minutes. He gave her the number that is actually for the sheriff’s office. The woman did not call the number, but did give it to police.
Sheriff Sam Romano said this is the first time the number of his office has been provided as part of an IRS scam.
“This is the first time that I know of our number being used,” Romano said Thursday. “But I talked to sheriffs across the state and they have had the same problem. It is ridiculous.”
Romano said the IRS never calls those who owe money.
The Canonsburg woman told Cochran that a second call came in, also identified as the IRS.
The caller identified herself as Mary, but the woman hung up on her.
Cochran said that the number was likely spoofed, where caller ID information is forged to appear authentic. He told the victim not to give out any personal information over the phone and not to send any money.
State police have also issued warnings about the telephone scams. The IRS will not demand payment of taxes without allowing the taxpayer to question or appeal the amount owed.
The IRS also will not require taxes to be paid a certain way or ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
The agency also will not threaten to send police to take you into custody.
The Better Business Bureau tracks scams and said the IRS tax scam topped the list in 2015.