Wilmington police warn of tax scams

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WILMINGTON — The Wilmington Police Department warns residents against a recent increase of scams involving people impersonating agents of the Internal Revenue Service.

IRS-type scams, where someone calls to offer a huge tax refund or threatens arrest, court action, deportation, license revocations and other punishments, are common around tax season.

WPD Detective Bob Wilson said he recently received several reports of suspected fraud.

The IRS does not make first contact by phone but through mail, according to press releases on the IRS’s website. The IRS also will not ask for credit card, debit card or prepaid card information over the phone, will not insist on a specific method of payment and will not request immediate payment over the phone nor take enforcement action immediately following a phone conversation.

If someone gets a suspect call, the IRS and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration suggests hanging up and calling the IRS directly.

The IRS’s warnings say common characteristics include fake names and ID numbers, repeating the last four digits of a potential victim’s social security number, setting up bogus IRS emails or a bogus IRS phone number and threatening potential victims.

If you receive a suspect call, the IRS suggests calling them at 1-800-829-1040.

The Wilmington Police Department can be reached at 937-382-3833.

Reach Nathan Kraatz at 937-382-2574, ext. 2510 or on Twitter @NathanKraatz.

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By Nathan Kraatz

[email protected]

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