An observant employee at the Rite Aid in the Carbon Plaza Mall prevented a customer from being defrauded out of $4,000.

Earlier today, a customer informed store employees she received a call from the IRS stating she had to pay money immediately. The customer was instructed to purchase cards to avoid arrest by the caller.

While at the store the customer spoke by phone with the person(s) who told her she owed the money. She informed them Rite Aid employees had told her she was the victim of a fraud.

The customer then received a call back from a number that appeared on her caller id as (610) 377-4002. This number belongs to the Lehighton Borough Police Department. The callers used the internet, and technology freely available to trick the customer into thinking she was being called by the police.

The customer was assured the call was fraudulent, and she suffered no loss of funds.

A reminder to residents: At no time will police call and demand payment of funds for the IRS to avoid arrest.