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Yonkers Police Warn Of IRS Impersonator Phone Scam

YONKERS, N.Y. -- The city Police Department is cautioning residents about a scam involving people claiming to work for the Internal Revenue Service. 

The Yonkers Police Department is cautioning residents about a scam involving people claiming to work for the IRS.

The Yonkers Police Department is cautioning residents about a scam involving people claiming to work for the IRS.

Photo Credit: File Photo

Police said there have been two recent incidents of IRS impersonators targeting residents in the 1st Precinct for unpaid taxes. The caller will typically identify himself as a special agent with the Criminal Investigation Division of the IRS and claim that there is an "open case" against the victim, police said.

"The fraudster then demands payment in the form of prepaid cards," police said in a release. "In one of these cases, the victim sent the suspect thousands of dollars in prepaid card numbers that were purchased by the victim at a local convenience store."

The phone numbers used by the suspects in the cases were 202-239-7140, 202-239-7036 and 202-470-4026.

Police ask residents to remember the following if they receive one of the calls: 

  • Ask for the callers' name and number and tell them you will have to call them back. Do not make any payments. The caller will operate with a sense of urgency to get a payment from the victim, and this is an indication that the caller is a fraudster. Look at your caller ID for the phone number.
  • Speak to a family member or your accountant/lawyer (if you have one) before taking any action on payments.
  • The IRS does not accept prepaid card payments for unpaid taxes. Any request for a prepaid card payment should immediately raise your suspicions.

Residents are advised to call the Yonkers Police Department Detective Division at 377-7724 or the Communications Division at 377-7900 if you are in doubt. Residents can also call the Mayor's Help Line at 377-HELP (4357).

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