There are currently fraudulent IRS phone calls being made to individuals all around the country. We have recently gotten phone calls from some clients, alerting us to phone calls they have received from persons claiming to be IRS representatives, and asking for the disclosure of social security numbers and banking information. These aggressive and sophisticated phone scammers call, claiming to be employees of the IRS, but they are not.
Although these con artists can sound convincing when they call, you should be alert to the fact that they may not be who they claim to be. Scammers use fake names and IRS identification badge numbers. They may know a lot about you and also may have altered the caller ID to make it look like the IRS is calling.
Victims are told they owe money to the IRS and that the money must be paid promptly through a pre-loaded debit card or wire transfer. They may also ask for social security numbers and other personal information that should not be shared over the telephone. If the victim refuses to cooperate, the scammers may use scare tactics, threatening arrest, deportation or suspension of a business or driver’s license. In many cases, the caller can even become hostile and insulting if information is not readily provided.
Another tactic being used by scammers is to tell victims that they have a refund due to try to trick them into sharing private information. They may also leave an urgent call-back voicemail if you do not answer the phone.
Please be aware: the IRS will never:
1) call to demand immediate payment, nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill;
2) demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe;
3) require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card;
4) ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone; or
5) threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.
If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS and asking for money, here’s what you should do:
• If you know you owe taxes or think you might owe, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. The IRS workers can help you with a payment issue.
• If you know you don’t owe taxes or have no reason to believe that you do, report the incident to the TIGTA at 1-800-366-4484 or at www.tigta.gov.
• If you’ve been targeted by this scam, also contact the Federal Trade Commission and use their “FTC Complaint Assistant” at FTC.gov. Please add “IRS Telephone Scam” to the comments of your complaint.