Wyoming Public Safety issues warning for IRS scam

The Chippewa Falls Police Department is warning the public about a scam. The suspect warned that the victim would be arrested if he or she did not pay the back tax claim, police said.

If you receive these types of calls, they encourage you to hang up and report it to the IRS.

Victims are told to send money via Western Union to a person in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Even though the crooks can alter their caller ID to appear as the IRS, it’s important to remember that the IRS will never ask for credit card numbers or debit payments over the phone. The threats include jail time, deportation, or the suspension of the victim’s business or driver’s license.

Most of the fraudulent calls seem to have come from the 202 area code, which is the Washington, D.C. area.

The IRS does not contact you with a phone call first; instead, you’d get a letter in the mail on IRS letterhead.

Investigators from the Metro Fraud and Identity Theft Team are investigating the recent cases. Anyone with information is asked to call Wyoming police at 616.530.7300 or Silent Observer at 616.744.2345.