Local residents, and people all over the country, are reporting a new version of an old scam. Since the beginning of the year, the Bettendorf Police Department has been receiving at least a couple of calls per week from residents who've received suspicious phone calls from someone claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service.
Sergeant Jeff Nelson says victims are told they owe money to the IRS and must pay almost immediately with a pre-loaded debit card to avoid being arrested or facing a lawsuit. But he says that's NOT the way the IRS does business.
It's tax season, and Nelson thinks that's why the fraudulent callers say they're with the IRS. He says if anyone receives a similar call, just hang up and don't worry about it. Don't trust your caller ID either because scammers have become sophisticated at using technology to fool the system into displaying "IRS" or a legitimate agency.
You may also call your local police department to report it.
