BORO PARK, FLATBUSH RESIDENTS AND BEYOND THREATENED BY CALLERS PRETENDING TO BE IRS AGENTS

Concerned that members of his community and beyond are being targeted by an obviously fraudulent operation, Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) has asked Attorney General Eric Schneiderman to investigate.

“I join my colleague Senator Simcha Felder who has also expressed his concern about this scam,” said Assemblyman Hikind. Hikind noted that his office has received numerous complaints from constituents who have received telephone calls from individuals identifying themselves as representatives of the Internal Revenue Service. The caller explains to the person answering the phone that money is owed to the IRS and a warrant for their arrest will be immediately issued if the debt is not satisfied. At least one of these calls came from the phone # 206-414-4646. The caller ID identified the caller as the IRS.

When members of Hikind’s staff attempted to contact the number, a voice message identifying itself as “the IRS” asks callers to leave their name and phone number.

“My own daughter was targeted,” said Hikind. “Fortunately, the constituents who contacted us have not given their credit card nor debt card information to the callers, but they were frightened by the calls. Further, I can only imagine that some people are frightened enough to actually be swindled out of their money.”

On Monday, Assemblyman Hikind sought the aid of the Attorney General and asked for an investigation into the matter. Hikind, who sponsors regular shredding opportunities for his community, advises constituents to never give out personal or banking information over the phone. If you get a fraudulent phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 1-800-366-4484. If you’ve been targeted by this scam, you should also contact the Federal Trade Commission and use their “FTC Complaint Assistant” at FTC.gov.

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