Chula Vista Police are warning the public about a scam in which someone is called by an individual impersonating an IRS agent, is threatened with legal action unless a sum of money is paid, then gets another call, this time from someone impersonating police, apparently to reinforce the credibility of the first caller.
A Chula Vista man told police a purported IRS agent left a message for him earlier this week with a callback number. Upon returning the call, the resident was told to pay the money he was being asked for to avoid a lawsuit or arrest, according to a police statement.
The man hung up after realizing he was the target of a scam. Immediately afterward he was called by someone who was later determined to have manipulated caller ID data to show he or she was calling from the Chula Vista Police Department’s dispatch phone number. The intended victim did not answer the call, but later called the police department and was told the call was not made by anyone there, police officials said.
Authorities urged residents to be extremely skeptical of callers demanding money and reiterated that police do not collect fines or money owed to the IRS.
Anyone who receives a phone call from someone claiming to be a police official is advised to take down a name and badge number, then call police and ask to speak to the officer. Residents should also avoid giving out personal information unless they are certain they are speaking to a real police officer conducting an investigation, police said.
—City News Service
