Why would the IRS need gift cards for back taxes?

Manassas City Police Department
Crime Report
January 10, 2017

Fraud
On Jan. 5, 2017, Manassas City Police met with a resident for a report of a fraud. The resident, a 36-year-old female of Manassas, told officers that at approximately 4:30 p.m., she received a call from an unknown woman claiming to be calling on behalf of the IRS. The caller told the resident that she owed taxes and interest from a previous tax year and if she did not settle the debt immediately, she would notify Police and have her arrested. The resident complied and disclosed personal information, purchased several prepaid iTunes gift cards, and, at the request of the suspect, provided the caller with information on each gift card over the phone. After the last purchase, the resident contacted her bank where an employee referred her to Police.

*Crime Prevention Tip:
Despite public perception, scam artists don’t discriminate based on age. Children, adolescents, adults, and seniors are ALL at risk for becoming a victim of fraud or identity theft. Spring is tax season, which is the perfect time for scam artists to target residents. Don’t believe callers, emails or texts that say they are from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), even if they threaten to have you arrested for not paying. If you are unsure whether a call you receive is a scam, hang up and contact the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040, or consult someone else – your bank, an accountant, the Police Department, a trusted friend, or a family member. For more information on IRS scams, click here.

**Arrests**

Larceny – Arrest
At approximately 12:20 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2017, Manassas City Police responded to Seton School, located at 9314 Maple St, for a report of a larceny that had just occurred. The reporting party told officers that a female driver drove onto campus, took multiple, unattended book bags from a table in front of the school, and drove away. With the assistance of the Manassas City Police Traffic Services Unit, officers quickly identified and located the suspect, Casey A. MHIRE, 31. MHIRE was arrested without incident and charged with Grand Larceny. Items that were stolen along with the book bags were valued altogether at approximately $1,500 and included personal items, wallets, school supplies, and electronics.