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Southold cops: Beware of phone scammers posing as IRS agents, demanding tax payment

Police report an influx of complaints from local residents about the IRS phone scam. Fotolia stock photo

Police are warning residents about an ongoing telephone scam attempt by thieves pretending to be IRS agents demanding payment of bogus tax bills.

The callers purport to be representatives of the Internal Revenue Service and demand immediate payment of back taxes, according to a Southold Town Police press release. Residents are given instructions to pay the phony tax bill with a prepaid debit card or wire transfer.

Southold Police have recently received an influx of complaints from astute local residents about these scam calls.

“We have received six complaints today alone about this scam,” Southold Police Chief Martin Flatley said yesterday.

It is important for all residents to understand the following, police said:

1. The IRS will not call you to demand immediate payment. The IRS will not call you if you owe taxes without first sending you a bill in the mail.

2. The IRS will not demand that you pay taxes and not allow you to question or appeal the amount owed.

3. The IRS will not ask for your credit or debit card numbers over the phone.

4. The IRS will not threaten to bring in police or other agencies to arrest you for not paying.

If you receive a call like this, do not give out any information. Hang up immediately, police said.

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Denise Civiletti
Denise is a veteran local reporter and editor, an attorney and former Riverhead Town councilwoman. Her work has been recognized with numerous awards, including a “writer of the year” award from the N.Y. Press Association in 2015. She is a founder, owner and co-publisher of this website.