ROCKLAND – Rockland police are warning the community that an “IRS” scam is targeting taxpayers in the Midcoast.  According to Rockland Chief Bruce Boucher, the sophisticated phone scam is telling victims they owe money to the IRS and it must be paid promptly or they will be sued.

Callers are being instructed to call 202-684-3436 to speak to an IRS official. The victim is instructed to pay the debt through a pre-loaded credit card or wire transfer. If the victim refuses to cooperate, they are threatened with arrest, deportation or suspension of a business driver’s license.

“This scam has hit taxpayers in nearly every state in the country. We want to educate taxpayers so they can help protect themselves. We do not ever ask for credit card numbers, pre-paid debit card or wire transfer information over the phone,” says IRS Acting Commissioner Danny Werfel. 

Werfel emphasized that the first IRS contact with taxpayers on a tax issue is likely to occur via mail.

Taxpayers who actually do owe taxes or think they do, and receive a phone call from someone claiming to be the IRS, should call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. IRS employees will help the callers with any payment issues, if there really is such an issue.

Taxpayers who do not owe taxes should call and report the incident to the IRS at 1-800-366-4484.

Individuals who think they have been targeted can also contact their local law enforcement or the Rockland Police at 594-0316.

Sarah Shepherd can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com