Second verse, same as the first – almost.

As previously reported, an IRS scam has recently made a return to Cherokee County in a big way, with a large number of area residents contacting us about the situation – and, as we’ve said before these people are NOT with the Internal Revenue Service, they’re con-artists and all you have to do is hang up and it’s over with.

We’ve recently been informed, that the same basic con game now features a slight variation on the theme.  In some cases, the caller claims to be with the U.S. Treasury Department, and they threaten to have the person on the line arrested for failing to pay their “back taxes”.

Sound familiar?  Well I bet this does too.  They then go through the song and dance of trying to get you to reveal personal private information such as credit/debit account numbers and social security numbers, banking information and so on. 

Some even try the old “Go buy a pre-paid credit card and give us the number” deal.

In most of the cases lately it seems the amount they are demanding is in the range of $3,000 to $4,000.  Most of the recent reports mention that the unknown caller becomes aggressive  – VERY aggressive, VERY fast.  Also note, many of these calls seem to originate from the 202 Area Code – which is a real area code for Washington, D.C.; of course that doesn’t mean that the people with the number aren’t crooks.

Just remember, you’re in charge.  When you’ve had enough hang up. 

Scammers can’t do anything to you, UNLESS YOU LET THEM.

Don’t give them anything but a hard time.

Then hang up.