Palominas resident targeted in phone scam

On Tuesday January 6, 2015 in the afternoon hours, the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office was advised of a phone call that was received by a Palominas resident which was an obvious attempt to fraudulently solicit money.

The potential victim said that a man called him stating that he was Deputy O’Brien with the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office and he provided a fictitious badge number. The scammer said that he was working with the IRS on a back taxes case and if the victim did not pay the money due immediately he would be arrested and his house would be taken away from him.

The scammer then told the victim to stay on the line to speak with the IRS agent and after a few moments the same man came back on the line and identified himself as being with the Internal Revenue Service.

The victim did not send any money and disconnected the call. The unusual part of this incident was the caller identification that the victim received on his phone was an actual Sheriff’s Office telephone number.

The Cochise County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public to avoid falling prey to these criminals who will try anything to get you and your money to part. Anything that sounds suspicious should be reported to your local law enforcement agency and never send money as a result of a phone solicitation.

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