Seniors Target of Phone Scam

An aggressive and sophisticated phone scam targeting taxpayers, including recent immigrants, has been making the rounds throughout the country.

Yorktown residents are reminded to never give out personal information over the phone. The IRS website provides information on how to identify telephone scam conversations.

Due to an influx of scam calls into southern New Mexico, the Santa Fe area, Clovis area and Lordsburg area this morning, Attorney General Balderas has issued a scam alert: IRS imposters are calling using fake names, titles and badge numbers in New Mexico. They may know a lot about their targets, and they usually alter the caller ID to make it look like the IRS is calling. The threats include jail time, deportation, or the suspension of the victim’s business or driver’s license.

Victims are told they owe money to the agency and it must be paid promptly through a pre-loaded debit card or wire transfer.

According to the IRS, the scammers often become hostile or insulting.

Emergency dispatchers had received more than 100 calls as of Wednesday afternoon from citizens concerned about phone messages left on their answering machines. “Threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying”.

They say you’re being sued.

IRS calls and asks for a credit card number over the phone to pay an outstanding debt.