This news item expired on Tuesday, May 31, 2016 so the information below could be outdated or incorrect.
The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office has received numerous calls from residents reporting voicemail messages being left by individuals representing themselves as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). These individuals representing themselves as the IRS are stating that the IRS has initiated legal proceedings against persons receiving the calls, and if they do not provide payment, via an electronic check, they will be arrested.
The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office wants to inform anyone receiving these calls that this is a scam. The Sheriff’s Office urges anyone who has received a call of this nature to contact the Sheriff’s Office and make a report. The IRS notifies persons by mail, not text or telephone, if they are delinquent on their taxes, or if legal action has been initiated against them.
The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office requests anyone receiving calls of this nature to call the Sheriff’s Office at (828)250-6670.
In a related story:
The State Attorney General also reports that North Carolina consumers are reporting dozens of calls claiming to come from IRS or US Treasury officials who demand immediate payment. The calls include a recorded message that says you owe taxes and threatens a lawsuit or arrest if you don’t pay right away.
Around 500 consumers have reported fraudulent tax collector calls to the NC Attorney General in the past 10 days, with most of the reports coming from area codes 919 and 252.
Remember: legitimate government agencies like the IRS would never demand that you pay taxes using iTunes gift cards, money orders, or wire transfers.
If you get one of these IRS scam calls, please report it to the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division by calling 1-877-5-NO-SCAM or by filing a complaint online at ncdoj.gov.
Please report:
- The number the call appears to come from (the number that shows on your Caller ID).
- The number you’re told to call to pay taxes or fines.
The State Attorney General is working with the IRS and telephone companies to try to identify the source of the calls and stop them, and your complaints can help.
This message brought to you on behalf of North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper.