The Carbon County Sheriff’s Office has been receiving reports from community members that an Internal Revenue Service scam is being conducted in our area from a phone number of (323) 365-8124, the scam has also reached to community members as far as San Juan County.

The notice comes on the heels of a warning given on August 18 from the IRS warning taxpayers against telephone scammers targeting students and parents during the back-to-school season and demanding payment for non-existent taxes, such as the “Federal Student Tax.”

According to the IRS new release, “People should be on the lookout for IRS impersonators calling students and demanding that they wire money immediately to pay a fake “federal student tax.” If the person does not comply, the scammer becomes aggressive and threatens to report the student to the police to be arrested. As schools around the nation prepare to re-open, it is important for taxpayers to be particularly aware of this scheme going after students and parents. Although variations of the IRS impersonation scam continue year-round, they tend to peak when scammers find prime opportunities to strike.”

If community members receive an unexpected call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, here are some helpful hints to protect themselves:

The IRS will NEVER:

• Call to demand immediate payment using a specific payment method such as a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer. Generally, the IRS will first mail you a bill if you owe any taxes.
• Threaten to immediately bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.
• Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.
• Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.

The Sheriff’s office encourages community members that if they have a concern that the IRS is actually trying to contact them to hang up and call the Provo office at (801) 377-6971 or report this type of scam to www.FTC.gov