TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The FBI Jacksonville Division is warning north Florida residents about scammers targeting the area.
The FBI says they have received many reports about scammers attempting to elicit money by making phone calls and claiming to be the IRS or other government agency.
Officials say there are many versions of the government impersonation scam, and they all use intimidation tactics.
The caller may advise the recipient of the call that charges will soon be filed against them, and threaten to confiscate the recipient's property, freeze their bank accounts, or have them arrested unless payment is made.
If the recipient questions the caller, the caller becomes more aggressive.
The FBI warns that federal agencies do not call or e-mail individuals threatening them or demanding that they send money.
Scammers often spoof caller ID information, and these phone calls are fraudulent even if they appear to be coming from a federal agency's legitimate phone number.
If you feel you have received a fraudulent call, you should hang up immediately and report the call.
All types of fraud schemes and scams can be reported to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
In addition, if you think you have been the victim of an IRS impersonation scam, please file a report online with the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). You can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission .
