Police: Report IRS Scam Calls, Don't Engage Callers

The IRS phone scam phone calls continue and the Swampscott Police Department is warning residents.

In an alert issued on Friday, police said the callers state they are from the Internal Revenue Service and they are looking for unpaid taxes. Residents are encouraged not to engage in conversation with these callers, police said.

During the call, the resident is told police will come to their home and arrest them if the taxes are not paid. The resident is then told to go to a local store and purchase cash cards called “Green Dot” in large amounts.

After the purchase the resident is asked to call back and provide the numbers on the back of the card that are visible once scratched off.

In July, Marblehead police issued a similar alert to residents in their town, saying they were being “inundated” by the calls. The calls have continued, with several calls reported to Marblehead police during the past week.

The calls are part of “a sophisticated phone scam,” according to Marblehead police, who said the IRS does not typically contact taxpayers on the phone.

A similar scam involves a caller saying they are from a utility company and unless there is a payment, the services will be shut off. The “Green Dot” cards are used in that scam as well. Swampscott police said that you should call them if you are contacted by the IRS scammers because they may have some specific information about residents or their residence.

To reach Swampscott police, the non emergency number is 781-595-1111. The calls can also be reported to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 1-800-366-4484.

Delano can be reached at that number or by e-mail at tdelano@swampscottpolice.com.