Chartiers woman conned in IRS scam
A 49-year-old Chartiers Township woman was conned out of more than $7,500 by a caller who told her this week that she owed back taxes to the Internal Revenue Service.
A caller with a foreign accent claiming to be a police officer with the IRS told the alleged victim that she would be arrested of she did not pay $8,000 she allegedly owed in taxes. She withdrew $7,700 from different accounts and went to a local grocery store, where she purchased Reloadit cards that she sent to the caller.
Police Chief James Horvath urged residents who might get a call claiming they owe back taxes or have won a lottery to hang up and notify police. He warned they should not send money to the caller.
“The problem is they try to keep the victim on the phone,” Horvath said. “Hang up and call us.”