New Canaan’s police chief is warning residents about a new scam where individuals are instructed through a mailed letter to make “delinquent tax payments” or face severe penalties.
The “Bureau of Tax Enforcement” letter includes a “due date” and toll-free 866 phone number that recipients are told to call or “your United States passport will be revoked along with your CT State driver’s license,” according to a copy provided to NewCanaanite.com. Its letterhead appears to include an IRS-like seal.
Police Chief Leon Krolikowski said he phoned the number, spoke with a man and asked a few questions.
“When I told him it was the New Canaan Police investigating a possible scam, he quickly hung up,” Krolikowski said. “The number appears to be disconnected.”
In this case, the letter demanded $49,439 to be paid and said the IRS “Bureau of Tax Enforcement, Internal Processing Service for Fairfield County” must be phoned by Feb. 18.
“Failure to respond to official notice is the same as non-compliance which is a federal crime,” the letter said.