HAMPTON, Va. – Hampton Police are warning citizens of a phone scam in which the caller claims to be a Hampton detective and demands money from residents over the phone.
The caller ID number used in the scam is a legitimate Hampton Police Department Investigation Bureau phone number. This is known as “spoofing” and allows the scammer to disguise their identity.
The caller claims to work for the Hampton Police Division and tells victims they are calling them to collect money for late taxes. The caller then asks for the victim’s credit card and debit card information for payment and threatens people who refuse to pay with imprisonment.
“First and foremost, that’s something that we here at the Hampton Police Division do not get involved with, that’s up to the IRS, the Internal Revenue Service,” said Hampton Police Sgt. Matt Bond.
According to a detective with the Hampton Police Economic Crimes Unit, the caller left one of the victims a message from a number in New York City.
Officers want to reiterate that they would never ask citizens for money or payment information of any type.
If you receive a phone call from someone who claims to be from the IRS and think you might owe taxes, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. You may also call and report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 1-800-366-4484 or file a complaint using the FTC Complaint Assistant; choose “Other” and then “Imposter Scams.” If the complaint involves someone impersonating the IRS, include the words “IRS Telephone Scam” in the notes.
