From: AARP Fraud Watch Network
While IRS impostor scams happen year-round, they are particularly common during tax season, making one of the more stressful times of the year that much worse. These impostors will stop at nothing in trying to steal our hard-earned money, and they have lots of ways to make their scam look convincing.
| How It Works |
| •You receive a phone call, text, or email that claims to be from the IRS. The message: You owe back taxes, and must make immediate payment or face arrest. •The communication will include a request to pay your supposed obligation by wire transfer, or by purchasing gift cards and supplying the number and PIN on the card. |
| What You Should Know |
| •Most IRS impostor scams begin as a robocall, with the message either directing you to press a number on your keypad to be connected with a live agent, or to call back using the number provided. •Scammers can change the number that shows up on your caller ID, making it appear that they are calling from the IRS. •The real IRS initiates communication by mail, including in cases of delinquent taxes. The agency may contact you by phone only after you have received and not responded to multiple written notices. •No federal agency accepts payment for any obligation by wire transfer or gift card. In 100% of these scenarios, it is a scam. |
| What You Should Do |
| •If you get a call like this, do not press a number to be connected to a live agent or call back on the number provided — either option puts you in direct contact with a criminal scammer. •If you think you may owe taxes, call the IRS at 1‑800‑829‑1040 or visit irs.gov/balancedue. •Know that beyond IRS impostors, ID tax fraud is still a big problem. Consider obtaining an IRS Identity Protection PIN. It prevents someone else from filing a tax return in your name. The IP PIN is known only to you and the IRS. |