Full Notification

IRS-Impersonation Telephone Scams

A sophisticated phone scam targeting taxpayers, including recent immigrants, has been making the rounds throughout the Janesville area. Callers claim to be IRS employees, using fake names and bogus IRS identification badge numbers. They may know a lot about their targets, and they usually alter the caller ID to make it look like the IRS is calling. Recent calls to Janesville residents are originating from the Janesville Police non-emergency number 608-757-2244.

Victims are told they owe money to the IRS and it must be paid promptly through a gift card or wire transfer. Victims may be threatened with arrest, deportation or suspension of a business or driver’s license. In many cases, the caller becomes hostile and insulting. Victims may be told they have a refund due to try to trick them into sharing private information. If the phone isn't answered, the scammers often leave an “urgent” callback request.

The IRS will never call you from the Janesville Police Department phone lines and will never ask you to purchase gift cards to settle tax disputes.


Canada Trust Inheritance Scam

Wouldn't it be nice if you came into an inheritance from a long-lost relative or friend? It does happen, but not very often. So if you receive a notification in the mail from an "estate locator" saying that there is an unclaimed inheritance waiting for you, beware. You could be the target of a slick con artist.

You can protect yourself by checking other sources before sending funds in response to an "estate locator" solicitation. Checking with relatives about recent deaths in the family is one approach. In addition, you can check with the local Better Business Bureau, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, or State Attorney General's office to see if there have been any investigations into the activities of the person or firm making the solicitation.

Remember, legitimate law firms, executors of wills, and others who have been named to distribute estate funds to rightful heirs normally do not request you to pay a fee to find out about your share of the estate.


Rock County Jury Duty Scam

Our partners at the Rock County Sheriff’s Office made community members aware of yet another scam targeting Rock County residents on 04/18/18.

Over the past week, people in Rock County have been contacted by phone by a subject claiming to be an officer from the Rock County Sheriff’s Office. The subject claimed that the person called has missed jury duty and has a warrant out for their arrest because of missing jury duty. They are told to purchase prepaid money cards and asked personal information such as Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, etc.

Jury duty is handled by the Clerk of Courts exclusively. If you are considered for jury duty, you are mailed a questionnaire from the Clerk of Courts to fill out. At the bottom of the questionnaire is an area to give your mailing address, along with your cell phone and/or email address. If you are selected for jury duty, you receive either an email or text, along with a letter informing you that you are to report for jury duty.

If you should miss jury duty, you receive a letter from the Clerk of Courts informing you that you have missed jury duty. You NEVER receive a phone call and you are always informed by the Clerk of Courts. You are never informed by the Rock County Sheriff’s Office or any other law enforcement agency in Rock County.


By: Sergeant Aaron S. Ellis #2236
Date: 04/19/18