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Jacksonville Beach police warn residents of IRS phone scam

The Jacksonville Beach Police Department is warning residents of a phone scam  that seeks to dupe people into thinking the IRS is after them.

Police said they received information that criminals are trying to steal money from people that they target by phone.

In the phone scam, callers say that they are police officers with the Jacksonville Beach Police Department and that they have a warrant for the victim’s arrest for unpaid taxes to the IRS.

There have also been similar reports in St. Johns County.

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Police said callers would then further say that if the targeted person does not immediately pay a set amount of money, the victim would be arrested.

These callers are using a computer application to list a fake number on the victim’s caller ID, officials said.

The latest spoofing calls appear to be coming from the Jacksonville Beach Police Department (270-1661). Police officials said these calls are not coming from the police department.

The department said it does not solicit any type of payments by phone.

The IRS also does not use law enforcement agencies to collect debts. Residents are advised to not give the caller any information and instead hang up and call their local police department to report the criminal activity.