Milford Police Warn of Recent IRS-Related Phone Scams

The Milford Police Department has issued a warning to local residents regarding recent reports of phone scams in town. 

Several Milford residents reported suspicious activity last week after receiving threatening phone calls from someone claiming to be from the IRS and who demanded them to pay back owed to taxes to the IRS. 

The caller also threatened residents that they would be arrested by police for not paying their taxes, and one resident reported receiving a phone number to be from the area code 202-506-9679, which as reportedly been used in previous scams, police said.

"The IRS has warned consumers in the past of various scams, however scammers keep changing their tactics," Milford police said in a statement. "Telephone numbers can be spoofed, which means there is technology available out there where scammers can call from certain locations, like overseas outside the United States, and make it appear as though the call came from somewhere else when it did not."

In the 202 number, police said, it appeared the call was coming from a landline in Washington, D.C., when it may have been even made from outside the country. 

Residents who receive such calls from anyone asking for personal information, such as bank information, are urged to not give it out. 

"Consult a close family member, friend of your local law enforcement if you are suspicious or if someone is threatening you," police said. 

Residents who believe they may owe the IRS back taxes should contact them at 1-800-829-1040.