Sheriff's office: Central Arkansans report IRS scam

The Pulaski County sheriff's office has received reports from central Arkansans who say people posing as IRS officials have demanded that taxpayers send them cash, a spokesman from the sheriff's office said Monday.

Spokesman Carl Minden said he did not know how many people have reported the scam or if anyone had incurred monetary loss.

Scammers say that residents owe taxes and must pay using a prepaid debit card, money order or wire transfer and threaten those who refuse with criminal charges, a grand jury indictment, immediate arrest, deportation and loss of business or driver's license, according to the treasury inspector general for tax administration.

The agency reported that 5,000 victims from across every state have collectively paid more than $26.5 million because of the scam.

Scammers will often utilize an automated call machine, send phony IRS emails and call multiple times claiming to be police or Department of Motor Vehicles employees.

People who think they have been scammed can file a complaint on the treasury inspector general for tax administration or Federal Trade Commission websites.

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