Local News

Omak Police Warn of Phone Scam

Jeff Koplin, Chief

Omak Police Department

Nov 09, 2019

Ring! Ring! It's just another phone scam calling in the local area and according to reports to the Omak Police the calls are hounding seniors and alarming taxpayers in the area. Reports are that scammers are impersonating Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agents and demand payment for taxes owed.

What is irritating is attitude: the scammers attempt to intimidate the victim with threats of license suspension, arrest and deportation. In some cases vulgar and obscene language is used. The scammers often:

o Know the last four digits of the victim's Social Security number;

o Make caller ID appear as if the IRS is calling;

o Send follow-up bogue IRS emails to support their scam; and

o Call a second time claiming to be the police and a warrant has been issued. The IRS doesn't initiate contact with taxpayers via email; text messages, telephone or social media channels to request personal or financial information.

If you or a family member receives one of these calls, hang up. Do not give out any information and do not trust callers who use threat or insults to bully you.

If you have been the victim of a scam call report it to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 1-800-366-4484.

Please tell your friends about bogus IRS scams. If you want to report scams you can call your local police. 826-0383