SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake City Police Department received two reports late this afternoon of callers claiming to be police officers and seeking money in return for assistance with IRS issues or tickets.

The scammers appear to be using the names of Salt Lake City police officers, names which can be gleaned from news reports or the department’s website, and then offering their assistance with tax problems or traffic tickets for a fee.

Worried it was a scam, at least two individuals asked for a call-back number which turned out to be for the Salt Lake City Police Department.

This is a scam. Please call your local law enforcement if you have received one of these calls.

Tips to Avoid Common Fraud Schemes, from https://www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety:

• Don’t pay in advance for services. Pay for services only after they are delivered.
• Be wary of companies that want to send a messenger to your home to pick up money, claiming it is part of their service to you. In reality, they are taking your money without leaving any trace of whom they are or where they can be reached.
• Never send money or give out personal information — such as credit card numbers and expiration dates, bank account numbers, dates of birth, or social security numbers — to unfamiliar companies or unknown persons.
• Be aware that your personal information is often brokered to telemarketers through third parties.
• If you have been victimized once, be wary of persons who call offering to help you recover your losses for a fee paid in advance.

If you have information about a fraud, report it to state, local, or federal law enforcement agencies.

Contact: Reporters seeking comment should contact the Public Information Officer at 801.799.NEWS (6397).

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