Authorities warned North County residents Wednesday about a telephone scam involving thieves posing as IRS agents and demanding money for supposed tax debt.
The Vista Sheriff's Station and Valley Center Sheriff's Substation have been receiving calls and complaints from peopled targeted by the scam, officials said.
The perpetrators aggressively demand payments, threatening lawsuits or arrest if they are not paid as demanded. Sometimes the crooks are armed with would-be victims' financial information and use caller-ID technology to make it appear that the IRS actually is calling.
The federal agency makes no such calls without first sending a bill in the mail, does not ask for credit or debit card numbers over the telephone and does not threaten arrest, according to sheriff's officials.
Anyone receiving such a call was advised to hang up immediately and report the incident by calling (800) 366-4484.
