Watchung Police Warn Residents of Telephone Scams

The Watchung Police Department warned residents to be vigilant of common telephone fraud and scams, which are especially active during tax season.

Watchung Police said Internal Revenue Service (IRS) telephone scams are common during tax season. IRS Additionally, IRS Commissioner John Koskinen warned all residents of telephone scams and those posing as employees of the IRS.

”Taxpayers should remember their first contact with the IRS will not be a call from out of the blue, but through official correspondence sent through the mail,” Koskinen said in a statement from the IRS. “A big red flag for these scams are angry, threatening calls from people who say they are from the IRS and urging immediate payment. This is not how we operate. People should hang up immediately and contact TIGTA (Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration) or the IRS.”

The Watchung Police Department urged residents to contact the police department for more information regarding telephone scams or if they believe they have been victim of a telephone scam by calling 908-756-3663.