NAPA (BCN) — The Napa County District Attorney’s Office is warning its residents to be aware of phony phone calls from people claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service.
Callers from people who say they are with the IRS are attempting to scam people in Napa County out of their personal information and money, district attorney officials said Tuesday.
The callers tell victims they owe money to the IRS and that it must be paid through a per-loaded debit card or wire transfer. If the victim refuses, the callers threaten arrest, deportation or suspension of a business or driver’s license.
Callers even go as far as using fake IRS identification numbers and can even alter the caller ID to appear as if the IRS is calling, according to the district attorney’s office.
At times, callers tell victims the IRS has a refund for them in order to get the victim to share personal information.
The IRS will never demand immediate payment or call about taxes owed without first having sent a bill in the mail, the district attorney’s office said.
Additionally they will never threaten to arrest you for not having paid.
The IRS also will never ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
The district attorney’s office recommend that victims hang up immediately of they suspect the phony callers are targeting them.