SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - A Sioux Falls woman is out $15,000 in an I-R-S phone scam.
Officer Sam Clemens says the caller told the 44-year-old woman she was behind in taxes owed and threatened her with arrest.
Clemens says the call was made to the victim's place of employment. She went to her bank, withdrew $6,000 and wired it as directed. He says the scammers called again and said they needed $9,000 more and she again wired the money. She wired the money to an address in Texas.
Clemens couldn't say when the victim realized she had been scammed. He says it's been awhile since investigators have seen this kind of scam. The IRS never calls taxpayers, they send a letter. And if you receive a letter, call the IRS office to confirm its authenticity.
Clemens say investigators also want to hear from victims who may have found that their taxes were filed fraudulently. He say police haven't come across that kind of crime yet but they expect it will happen in Sioux Falls.
He says tax filing time brings out the scamming community.