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IRS Scam Cons Arizona Residents Out Of $80,000

Matt Richards says the IRS impersonation scam continues to grow nationwide.
(Photo by Carrie Jung - KJZZ)
Matt Richards says the IRS impersonation scam continues to grow nationwide.

Officials with the Internal Revenue Service say a large-scale phone scam has conned Arizona residents out of about $80,000 since January.

The scammers have been posing as IRS employees. They insist the person on the line owes the agency money and demand payment through pre-paid credit cards or money wire transfers, threatening arrest or deportation for noncompliance.

Matt Richards is a special agent with the Treasury Department’s Inspector General Office. He said this is the largest IRS impersonation scam the agency has seen.

"We now have over 100,000 complaints that have come into our agency. And it’s growing everyday," said Richards. "Everyday we’re getting hundreds of calls nationwide. Over 1,200 victims now and over $5 million."

Richards adds the IRS will never "cold call" a taxpayer to collect money owed and will not demand payment immediately.

Carrie Jung was a senior field correspondent from 2014 to 2018.