Sheriff: Coshocton residents report phone scam

COSHOCTON – Despite what your caller ID might say, the Coshocton County Sheriff’s Office is not calling to threaten to arrest you, and the IRS does not want your credit card number read over the phone.

The same phone scams that are gripping the state are being seen Coshocton County, the sheriff’s office reported yesterday.

In an intimidating phone scam that local authorities reported was widespread in the county this week, callers claiming to be IRS agents or law enforcement officials demand back taxes and threaten arrest.

The callers can rig the call information appearing on caller ID to make it appear the call is coming from the IRS in Washington D.C. or the sheriff’s office, Lt. Dean Hettinger said. In some cases, they had all or part of the victim’s Social Security number.

The caller demands money be sent via a prepaid debit card or other electronic money wiring method, or asks for the victim’s card number.

But Sheriff Tim Roger’s office wants you to know that even if you did owe the government money, that’s not how officials would go about getting you to pay up.

In a news release sent to local news outlets Tuesday, the sheriff’s office warned that the IRS does not ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone or bring in local authorities to arrest anyone for nonpayment.

“We’re reminding our community, the IRS does not demand immediate payment without first sending mail,” Hettinger said. “We’re trying to stay ahead and if we can save one person from being scammed it d be good.”

To share any concerns, call the sheriff’s office at 740-622-2411.