Scammers on the Line

Another week closer to April 15, and there are two more reports of scammers posing as Internal Revenue Service agents. Both incidents occurred last Thursday.

Lee Young of Two Holes of Water Road, East Hampton, recognized immediately that he was being scammed when “Agent Ford of the I.R.S.” called him, demanding he send $3,130 using a prepaid card. East Hampton Town police traced the call to a Voice Over Internet Protocol number. These are used by grifters via programs like Skype, “and can be masked to look like any number,” the report says. Police then notified the Federal Trade Commission consumer hotline, which handle phone scams for the I.R.S.

Another East Hampton Town resident, Christine Oms of Tall Tree Court, received two similar voicemail messages. She too recognized them as scams and did not return the calls.

Residents who receive such calls can contact the F.T.C.’s consumer hotline directly at 877-382-4357.