Pella Police PD Cruisers

The Pella Police Department is warning area residents about a nationwide telephone scam that has made its way to Pella.
Last week, a resident received a call in which the caller identified himself as being from the Department of Legal Affairs and encouraged the citizen to promptly call a number to clear up financial obligations. Pella Police Chief Robert Bokinsky says anyone receiving an unsolicited telephone call in which the caller pressures them to make financial decisions should understand that this is most likely an attempt at fraud. He says if you suspect you are a victim of any financial or tax-related scam, contact your local law enforcement agency and the financial institution attached to the accessed information.
The steps of the scam are:
1. The scammer presents a problem, such as back taxes, unpaid tickets, or owed money.
2. The scammer adds an imminent personal threat such as arrest, issuance of an arrest warrant, additional fines, or money owed.
3. The scammer adds a time line for action, usually short, such as 20, 30, or 60 minutes. This is a tactic to eliminate time to think, time to refer the issue to a friend or family
member, or check the legitimacy of the issue at hand.
4. The final step is when the scammer introduces a quick payment as the way to eliminate the “problem.” Many times, this proposition comes in a follow-up call.
In all business transactions, calls and debt collections that are not self-initiated it is recommended that citizens verify the company, check the legitimacy of the claim, and then re-initiate the call to the company’s publicly listed contact number. Additionally, always investigate allegations prior to making any payments or sharing personal information.
The IRS Tax Scams/Consumer Alerts page can be found here.
For additional information on fraud, click here.