As the tax filing deadline approaches, the Palo Alto Police Department is experiencing multiple calls a day from community members who are receiving “fake” calls from the Internal Revenue Service. In this scam, a suspect calls and tells the resident they owe money to the IRS and it must be paid immediately by using a pre-loaded debit card or wire transfer. Sometimes, they threaten the residents with arrest if the victim does not cooperate. This scam is not unique to Palo Alto and is occurring nationally. For safety tips on how to protect yourself, please go to https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/gov/depts/pol/crime/scams/irs_scams.asp.
