A Claremont resident is out over $6,000 from an elaborate fraud scheme. Troubles began when the local received a phone call from an individual who claimed to be from the IRS and requested the resident pay back taxes worth $6,137. The victim followed the supposed IRS officer’s directions, purchasing a series of prepaid debit cards to pay off the “debt.” It wasn’t until after the transaction had already gone through that the Claremonter realized he was a victim of fraud. IRS representatives remind the public that they will never request credit card numbers over the phone, nor request an over-the-phone transfer. Any of these types of incidents should be reported to the treasury inspector general for tax administration at (800) 366-4484.

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