LOS ALTOS (KRON) — Los Altos police are warning residents about phony scam calls, claiming they are from the IRS or United States Treasury Department, police said on Monday.
Police said older adults tend to be targets of the scammers.
Police did not elaborate on the nature of the calls, but provided the following tips to avoid being scammed:
The IRS will never:
Call to demand immediate payment, nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill.
Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.
Require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card.
Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
Threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.
If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS and asking for money, here’s what you should do:
If you don’t owe taxes, or have no reason to believe that you do:
Do not give out any information. Hang up immediately.
If you have any information, you’re asked to call police at (800)-829-1040.