IRS Scam Affecting North Plains Residents, Police Say

NORTH PLAINS, OR — As the April 17 Tax Day deadline draws nearer, so too begins an increase in IRS-related scams.

At least one resident of North Plains has been scammed into paying $2,000 to someone claiming to be a representative of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), according to the North Plains Police Department.

Chief Jesse Baker on Friday released a statement warning residents not to be caught in such a scam, providing tips that should help anyone assure they're not taken advantage of.

A man claiming to be an IRS employee reportedly called the North Plains resident March 6 and told them "there was a lawsuit…for back taxes from 2015," Baker said, adding, "The male also said that unless the resident immediately paid the full amount of $2,000 there would be an arrest warrant issued for the resident's arrest."

Providing an IRS employee ID number, and bringing in another man who claimed to be a deputy with the Washington County Sheriff's Office, the man threatened the resident with arrest multiple times, Baker said.

"Unfortunately, the resident paid the $2,000 believing it would prevent a warrant being issued," he said. "Please be aware of scams like this! The people perpetrating these scams may have intimate details of your life, such as your spouse's name, your current address, or your email address — making the scam seem very real."

When in doubt, Baker said, call the North Plains Police Department and/or Washington County Sheriff's Office non-emergency dispatch at 503-629-0111. A concerned resident can also call the IRS customer service number at 1-800-829-1040.

Additionally, to help residents recognize a scam, Baker offered the following five signs that indicate something is likely amiss:

"The IRS does not —

• Call you to demand immediate payment;
• Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the chance to question or appeal the amount they say you owe;
• Require you to use a certain payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card;
• Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone; or
• Threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement to have you arrested for not paying."

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