“The IRS won’t send you an email about a tax bill or refund out of the blue,” Koskinen said. Still others pose as a bank, credit card company, tax software provider or government agency.Ĭriminals create websites that appear legitimate but contain phony login pages in the hope victims will take the bait and provide money, passwords, Social Security number and identity. Others hack an email account, and send mass emails under another person’s name. Some scammers pose as a person or organization the victim trusts or recognizes. “Criminals are constantly looking for new ways to trick you out of your personal financial information, so be extremely cautious about opening strange emails,” Koskinen said. If you know you owe, or think you may owe tax: Please add “IRS Telephone Scam” in the notes. ![]() Use the “ FTC Complaint Assistant” on FTC.gov. Report it to the Federal Trade Commission.Use their “ IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting” web page. Contact the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration to report the call.If you don’t owe taxes, or have no reason to think that you do: Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phoneįollowing is what a taxpayer who gets a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS and asking for money should do.Require a taxpayer to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card.Demand payment without first giving the taxpayer an opportunity to question or appeal the amount said to be owed.Call to demand immediate payment, or call about taxes owed without first having mailed a bill.The IRS reminded taxpayers it would never do the following: Some schemes may say you’re entitled to a huge refund. “The caller may threaten you with arrest or court action to trick you into making a payment. “There are many variations,” Koskinen said. “Keep your personal information secure by protecting your computers and only giving out your Social Security numbers when absolutely necessary.”Ĭriminals impersonating IRS agents have deluged taxpayers across the nation with phone calls, threatening police arrest, deportation, license revocation and other things. “We urge people to use caution when viewing emails, receiving telephone calls or getting advice on tax issues because scams can take on many sophisticated forms,” IRS commissioner John Koskinen said. In fiscal 2015, the IRS initiated 776 identity-theft-related investigations, resulting in 774 sentencings through its enforcement efforts. A recent study found that some two-thirds of taxpayers thought identity theft “ could never happen to me,” often making them easy prey for scammers. Tax-related identity theft, in which someone uses a stolen Social Security number to file a tax return claiming a fraudulent refund, remains a chief concern for the IRS.Īnd with good reason.
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