University of Wisconsin employee scammed out of thousands of dollars

MADISON (AP) — Police say a University of Wisconsin-Madison employee was scammed out of more than $4,000 by two people who claimed to be tax collectors.

The Wisconsin State Journal reports that the victim reported the scam to the UW-Madison Police Department Tuesday. He told police he had received a call from a man who identified himself as Jimmy Arthur of the "Federal Tax Department."

A police spokesman says the caller told the victim he owed $1,320 in unpaid taxes and needed to pay immediately. The scammer said the victim would be arrested and deported if he didn't comply.

The spokesman says the caller then transferred the victim to a woman, who told him to purchase pre-paid cash cards and read the numbers on the cards to her. He says the woman then demanded $3,000 to clear up a warrant for his arrest.