[Tang-Residents] Fwd: Crime Bulletin: IRS and Tax-Related Phone Scams

[Dawn Anderson]

FYI Tang Hall.

Dawn, Head of House

Begin forwarded message:

From: Andrew J Turco <aturco at mit.edu<mailto:aturco at mit.edu>>
Subject: Crime Bulletin: IRS and Tax-Related Phone Scams
Date: March 27, 2017 at 3:18:43 PM EDT
To: all-campus <all-campus at mit.edu<mailto:all-campus at mit.edu>>

Crime Alert Bulletin
IRS and Tax-Related Phone Scams
03/27/2017

Summary:  A number of people in the MIT community have recently become victims of tax-related phone scams.  Victims report receiving calls from people pretending to be IRS tax employees or police officers.  The perpetrators tell the victims that they owe thousands of dollars in taxes and will be arrested if they do not pay immediately.  Then the perpetrators tell the victims to purchase gift cards, usually amounting to thousands of dollars.  The perpetrators then demand the victims read the numbers off the cards to the perpetrators over the phone.  This allows the criminals to use the gift card without ever having physical possession of it.
Perpetrators of these types of scams often target international students and others not familiar with local laws and customs.  If you think you have been a victim of a crime, please contact the MIT Police Department at 617-253-1212.
Suggestions:  In order to protect yourself and your telephone scams MIT Police encourage you to follow these tips:
•         NEVER give out personal information over the phone or online unless you are positive you are speaking to the company or entity you are expecting or you initiated the call.
•         The IRS will NEVER threaten to immediately arrest you.
•         No government agency or police department will ever demand to be paid in gift cards of any kind.
•         If you are talking to strangers on the phone or online, they may not be who they say they are.
•         If someone threatens you on the phone or online, hang up or end your session and contact the MIT Police at 617-253-1212.

The MIT Police are investigating these crimes and request the assistance from the MIT community.  Immediately notify the MIT Police at 617-253-1212 or 100 from any campus phone if you believe a crime is occurring, has occurred, or is about to occur.  If you wish to leave an anonymous tip please call 617-258-TIPS (8-8477).



ANDREW J. TURCO
Crime Prevention Sergeant
MIT Police Department
301 Vassar Street (W89)
Cambridge, MA 02139
617-253-1212

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