The Suffolk County Police Department is warning residents of a telephone scam during which people are asked to send money via prepaid cards for payment of unpaid taxes.
A potential victim will receive a telephone call from someone claiming that they are from the Internal Revenue Service and the individual owes back taxes, police said. The caller threatens the individual with arrest if they do not purchase prepaid Green Dot cards to pay off the taxes.
Police said during a recent incident, a man spoofed an IRS telephone number in order to give the appearance the call was legitimate, demanded the victim purchase several thousand dollars’ worth of Green Dot cards and give him the card numbers over the phone. The victim complied with the man’s request but did not fulfill the entire amount requested, according to a police press release. The following day, a female called from what, on the caller ID, appeared to be 911 and identified herself as an employee of the Suffolk County Police Department, police said. The caller told the victim if she did not send the remainder of the money, she would be arrested.
Investigations have determined that victims are randomly selected and the caller is usually able to convince the target that the scenario is real, according to police.
“The Suffolk County Police Department advises residents to independently verify the information the caller is giving is true and not to give out any personal information during the call. If someone receives a call of this nature, they are advised to call the Suffolk County Police Department for further investigation,” police said in the release.
