According to mTAB, a survey analysis crosstab software, 86.2 million U.S. phone calls are reported to be scams each month. Residents of Moorestown have reported an increased number of phone scams in recent months, and, in response, the Moorestown Police Department wishes to make residents aware of the signs of a potential scam.
“The most common phone scam we have experienced in the area is the ‘IRS demand for payment’ scam,” Chief Lee R. Lieber said. “We have put out information on this scam several times to residents. This scam seems to occur in cycles and at various times with the fraudsters auto dialing residents in the same exchange and attempting to extort money from those who answer the phone.”
To better identify this scam, residents should become wary when a caller identifies themselves with a common name or if they are able to recite personal information about the call recipient including email addresses, the last four digits of a potential victim’s Social Security number and his or her address. The scammers also typically put a time restriction on the matter they are calling about, saying the victim only has so many days or hours to resolve the matter involving payment.
“[The scammers] will purport to be working for the IRS and demand payment for alleged non or missed payment or face immediate arrest,” Lieber said. “The fraudsters will normally have the victim purchase electronic payment cards and direct the victim to give the fraudsters the access pin.”
A more recent scam targeting members of the town involves an imposter from the diversified energy company Public Service Enterprise Group calling residents and businesses reporting that if a payment is not made immediately their services will be terminated. In a panic to avoid this outcome, some residents and business have fallen victim to making these payments.
“The IRS never uses these tactics and encourages receivers of these calls to contact them at www.irs.gov,” Lieber said. “The PSEG scam that we recently sent out is targeted more toward businesses, as the proceeds from the scam are potentially larger, as their utility bills are bigger than a residential bill.”
To further protect oneself against phone scams, the Federal Trade Commission suggests call recipients do online searches on the company or product calling, do not always believe caller ID, do not pay upfront for a promise and to be skeptical of free trial offers. It also recommends recipients hang up on robocalls, consult a friend or expert before making any payments, don’t deposit a check and wire money back and to consider the best method of payment because some do not have significant fraud protection built in.
To get the latest tips and advice regarding potential phone scams, residents can sign up for free scam alerts from the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/scams. To help law enforcement bring an end to these fraudulent calls, scams can also be reported at ftc.gov/complaint.
Ultimately, it’s important to remember the IRS never initiates contact with taxpayers by email, nor does it request personal or financial information over the phone. However, victims of these scams who have suffered a financial loss should alert the police department immediately. The Morrestown Police Department can be reached at (856) 235–1405.
