MORENO VALLEY – (INT) - The Moreno Valley Police Department has been made aware of potential scammers targeting citizens with threats of arrest or liens against property for failing to pay past tax debts.

People should be very critical of unsolicited telephone calls from persons claiming to represent the Internal Revenue Service where the caller informs the citizen of past or overdue tax liabilities.

The scammers then obtain credit card information or instruct the citizen to obtain a Green Dot card for the “outstanding tax debt.” Once this information is given to the scammer, the funds are immediately withdrawn.

At no time will the IRS or other government agency attempt to call any citizen regarding an outstanding debt.

Anyone receiving a call from a person claiming to be from the IRS or any other government agency claiming money is owed and recommends electronic payment or other means should refuse the demand.

The incident should then be reported to the Moreno Valley Police Department or your local law enforcement agency.

Story Date: April 13, 2015