Leader Staff
The Shawano County Sheriff’s Office has begun to receive a substantial number of complaints from people who have received phone calls or recorded messages from people claiming to represent the Internal Revenue Service, Sheriff Adam Bieber said Thursday.
“During these calls the individuals posing as government representatives tell people they owe money and instruct them to use wire transfers to pay amounts that can run into the thousands of dollars, or threaten that charges will be filed against them or warrants will be issued for their arrest,” he said. “If you receive this type of call, it is a scam and any amount someone might talk you into paying using scare tactics will likely be lost.”
Bieber said the issue is not unique to Shawano County.
“We are aware that adjoining counties have received similar complaints and have also issued warnings,” he said.
Bieber said this is just the latest version of this type of scam and people should always be wary of calls that request immediate wire transfers of money.
“Scammers are using urgency and playing on people’s emotions either by issuing threats or promising something that will never be delivered,” he said.
Bieber also said people should never give out personal information over the phone, unless they initiated the call and know exactly who they are talking with and for what purpose.