IRS scam still an issue in Putnam County

Tax season may just about be over, but that hasn't stopped the maddening IRS (Internal Revenue Service ) scam from continuing to raise its ugly head.

Greencastle City Police late last week received seven or eight calls about the IRS scam, Chief Tom Sutherlin told the Banner Graphic, along with a couple more calls about the jury-duty scam that appears to be the current rage.

In the IRS scam, callers demand payment of supposed past-due taxes. Scammers might threaten arrest and jail time if payment is not received immediately, and usually request the money be paid back through the purchase of pre-paid cards.

Acknowledging that the scam story has been in the local media a number of times recently, Chief Sutherlin said regrettably people are still falling for the notion that the Internal Revenue Service might call and threaten you with arrest unless you make immediate payment of supposed past-due taxes that you didn't even know you owed. And almost certainly you don't.

"We (local police) are not going to come to your front door and arrest you if you don't pay their (bogus) fine," Chief Sutherlin assured.

Yet the calls continue, and people continue to fall for the ruse, he said.

IRS officials also would never ask anyone for a credit card number or a debit card number or prepaid card information over the phone, the police chief added.

The IRS will never initiate contact over the phone but instead will always make contact initially through official correspondence by mail.

The best solution for those who receive such a call, Chief Sutherlin said, is to hang up and contact the Indiana Attorney General's Office (1-888-834-9969) or the Indiana Better Business Bureau (1-866-463-9222) or even the IRS itself (1-800-829-1040).