Residents warned of IRS telephone scams
By Steve Herring
Published in News on May 31, 2016 1:46 PM
MOUNT OLIVE -- Area residents are being warned about a telephone scam in which the callers claim to represent the IRS.
The callers are aggressive and scare people with the threat they will be arrested if they don't send money.
A second scam involves callers who tell the person they have won a lottery, but that they must send money in order to claim their prizes.
The calls are not limited to home phones, some are going to cell phones as well.
Mount Olive Police Capt. Linda Tyson said she has received two of the IRS calls and wants to warn resident not to taken in by the scam. Also, anyone who received either the IRS or lottery call should contact authorities, she said.
"In the last couple of weeks, residents in the community, as well as in Duplin and Wayne County have been receiving calls on their cell phones as well as their home phones that they owe money to the IRS, and they want them to return a phone call," she said. "I am advising people, do not call that number.
"The IRS is not going to give you a phone call saying that you owe them money. Also, be careful. This is the time of the year when people get fraudulent checks in the mail. So just be aware. If you are an elderly person, I suggest that you contact someone you know in your family or your bank before cashing any check into your account. That is just another way that people can get into your account and take your money."
The IRS is not going to call, Mrs. Tyson said.
"The person on the other end may even tell you that if you do not send money, that the police department or local law enforcement will have a warrant for your arrest," she said. "Do not be afraid of those phone calls. Do not go sending any money because someone threatened to take you to jail.
"You are welcome to call your local law enforcement or anybody in your community to contact law enforcement. Law enforcement does not mind speaking to you on this, but do not call (the bogus IRS)."
The same advice is true for the lottery calls, she said.
"If you ever have to send in money to a lottery or something you have won, then you have not won anything," she said. "My suggestion on that, if you have not played a lottery, then you have not won a lottery."
Anyone who has received one of the calls, or has an elderly relative who has, may call Mrs. Tyson at the police station at 919-658-5031.