The woman told police that she had received a phone call early Wednesday, Jan. 27, from someone claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service.
The caller, who the woman said had an “Indian accent,” told her she had tax evasion warrants on her and that her taxes had been audited for five years, police said.
The caller further threatened the woman, she reported, with arrest if she didn’t fork over $6,000 immediately.
The victim also told police that the caller was very insistent that she tell no one else about the matter and directed her to go to her bank and withdraw the money and send it to him.
The caller also threatened to call local police and then hung up, she told authorities
As the woman was driving to the police station to report the incident, she received a call that appeared to come from the police department. The same caller told her she would be arrested if she went inside the station, she told police.
The caller hung up when a Suffern officer got on the phone, police said.
Police are reminding residents that the IRS does not call and threaten to arrest people; it sends letters which can be authenticated.
They are also advising people who get these scam calls never to give personal information over the phone.
If a resident has any doubts, police said, he or she should contact authorities immediately.
In this case, where the Suffern Police Department’s number came up on caller ID, the caller likely used a phone app or computer program to put out a phony number.
Residents are advised to hang up and call the police department if they have any doubts.
Suffern police, located at 61 Washington Ave., can be reached at (845) 357-2300.
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