For Immediate Release

Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Bridgewater Police Warn Residents of New IRS Scam Involving Alleged Police Officers

BRIDGEWATER — Chief Christopher D. Delmonte and the Bridgewater Police Department are warning residents of a new IRS scam involving a man impersonating a Bridgewater police officer insisting that victims pay the IRS through iTunes gift cards.

According to police, a caller, claiming to be an IRS “agent” recently contacted a Bridgewater resident to collect overdue taxes. The agent alleged that if the resident didn’t pay, Bridgewater Police would step in and make an arrest.

The scam call was followed up with another call, this time by someone impersonating a Bridgewater police officer. The fake officer instructed the victim to purchase multiple iTunes gift cards as payment to the IRS. The officer stated that failure to do so would result in an arrest. In addition, the scammer was able to clone the department’s business line number so that “Bridgewater Police” appeared on caller ID.

The IRS agent then called back and stayed on the phone with the victim while approximately $3,000 in iTunes gift cards were purchased at multiple locations in town.

“The Bridgewater Police Department will never contact a community member regarding their financial status or taxes. Additionally, the IRS will never call you demanding payment in any form of gift cards,” Chief Delmonte said. “I urge anyone who encounters this scam to hang up the phone and call the police department immediately.”

To avoid becoming a victim of an IRS scam, residents are encouraged to remember the following:

• The IRS first contacts people by mail — not by phone — about unpaid taxes.
• The IRS will not ask for payment using a pre-paid debit card, a money order or wire a transfer.
• The IRS also will not ask for a credit card number over the phone.
• The IRS never requests personal or financial information by email, text, or social media.

If you receive a call from an IRS scammer, hang up. Do not engage with these callers.

If you get a call from someone claiming to be with the IRS asking for a payment and if you think you owe money, hang up and call the IRS at 800-829-1040. IRS workers can help you with your payment questions.

If you get a scam call and do not owe taxes, fill out the “IRS Impersonation scam” form tigta.gov, or call the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 800-366-4484.

The IRS also advises residents to forward scam emails to phishing@irs.gov, and to not open any attachments or click on any links in those emails.

If you are ever unsure about a potential scam, contact the Bridgewater Police Department at 508-697-6118.

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