SCAM ALERT!: The Bensalem Township Police Department would like to advise residents of a rise in reports of scam phone calls. The callers target residents by stating they are from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or US Immigration Agents (ICE). They also have the ability to “Spoof” the phone number that they are calling from so it looks like it is a call from local or federal government on your caller ID. These criminals threaten the citizen with jail time or revocation of their immigration status unless they receive payment immediately. The scammers tell their victim’s that they can avoid these penalties by buying gift cards, scratching off the code on the back and send them a picture of the card number and code. No local or federal government employee will ask for payment over the phone. No local or federal government will accept gift cards as payment. If you receive one of these calls, do not give the caller any personal information such as date of birth, social security number or bank account numbers. Do not buy gift cards and provide the information to the caller. If you have any questions about a phone call you have received, come to the Bensalem Township Police Department to report the incident or check for the published phone number of the federal agency online and call them to check the status of your account. Don’t be a victim of these callers. Protect your personal information at all times.
Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®
: https://bucks.crimewatchpa.com/bensalempd/15488/post/scam-alert-phone-calls-targeting-residents