More phone scams are going around in Jacksonville, according to the city police department.
Lieutenant Adam Mefford tells our reporting partners at WICS ABC Newschannel 20 that most have to do with tax collections, and that they’ve lasted longer this year than usual. Mefford says the most common phone scams that are trending are either fake IRS agents or bill collectors.
“Because the tax season people know that the tax returns are out there, people are getting their money back, and they’re piggy-backing off of the tax season to try to deceive people into getting their money out of them,” says Mefford.
Police say scammers are calling and saying the person picking up has overdue bills, and get more aggressive the more you question them, threatening the caller with fines and potential arrests.
So far, Channel 20 reports the police department hasn’t heard of any victims from the scam, and they think people are starting to become more aware of the scams. Police say if you don’t feel like you owe money, you probably don’t, because agencies like the IRS won’t call without prior notice to demand money.