NEWS RELEASE Contact: Purcellville Police Department
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 540-338-7422
THE PURCELLVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT WOULD LIKE TO NOTIFY RESIDENTS OF POTENTIAL
IRS TELEPHONE SCAMS AND FINANCIAL CRIMES
PURCELLVILLE, Va. August 7, 2018 — Over the past few days, the Purcellville Police Department has received several reports of attempted telephone fraud. Residents have received automated messages stating they are under investigation for “tax fraud” and a warrant has been issued for their arrest. The messages contain accusations including: the resident has committed fraud, threats of imminent physical arrest, and instructions to call back in order to avoid being arrested by the FBI, IRS, or local police.
The phone numbers that have shown up on Caller ID’s in the most recent reports appear to come from Washington, D.C., but they can appear to originate in any city or town. Some known examples: 202-795-5882, Washington, D.C.; 202-558-4567, Washington D.C.; 202-897-3711, Washington D.C.; 212-203-0618, New York City; 817-376-9746, Arlington, TX; and 817-226-5396, Arlington, TX.
These fraudulent calls frequently target the elderly, and commonly direct the victim to send money via wire transfer or a prepaid gift card, in order to avoid arrest and criminal prosecution. It is important to note, any phone number or email address, can be imitated or “spoofed” and appear to be from any government agency or police department.
Purcellville police remind residents that neither the police nor the Government will call you on the phone advising there is a warrant for your arrest; or direct you to pay money in order to avoid arrest. DO NOT return these calls, NEVER provide your personal or financial information over the phone, and never make payments by phone if you are unsure if the call is legitimate.
If you have been a victim, and shared your personal information or paid money to a call, please contact your local police department. If you suspect you received a fraudulent phone call, you can contact the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov or 202-326-2222. The FTC gathers this data and has the ability to detect patterns of fraud from information collected. For more information about Financial Crimes or fraud visit https://www.purcellvilleva.gov/690/Citizen-Fraud-Information, the Purcellville Police Departments Citizen Fraud Information page.
We urge residents to:
• Contact the IRS is you feel there is any discrepancy with your tax bills.
• Use these numbers to contact IRS if you feel you are being scammed: http://www.irs.gov/uac/Telephone-Assistance
• Be skeptical if someone demands that you owe taxes and must pay with a Green Dot Moneypack
• Remember, once money has been wired/sent, it is impossible to recover.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
More information on Financial Crimes and common frauds visit the websites for Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office and Fairfax County Police Department at the following:
https://sheriff.loudoun.gov/index.aspx?nid=232
https://sheriff.loudoun.gov/index.aspx?NID=342
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/howdoi/financialcrimes
The Town of Purcellville, Virginia
Purcellville is an award-winning town of over 9,000 residents located in Loudoun County, approximately 40 miles west of Washington, DC. Having received the prestigious Siemens Sustainability Award for Small Communities, Purcellville continues to be honored for its green initiatives with most recently being the Tree City USA recipient for the 10th year. The Town was reaffirmed as an AAA rated community by S&P Global Ratings, the highest credit rating possible, and is recognized as one of the safest towns in Virginia. Once a stop along the W&OD rail line, Purcellville has maintained its historic old-town feel through the restoration and maintenance of its many downtown structures, reflecting the Victorian architecture popular during the early 1900s. Today, Purcellville is the economic hub of western Loudoun County and a popular weekend destination for antiquing, entertainment, farmer’s markets, wineries, breweries, distilleries and restaurants. More info at www.purcellvilleva.gov.
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