Beware of IRS Phone Scams
A surge in phone scams has been seen in recent months and the IRS reminds taxpayers to be on the alert. The first IRS contact with taxpayers is usually through the mail; therefore, if someone calls unexpectedly claiming to be from the IRS, it’s probably a scam artist. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) has received reports of 290,000 contacts since October 2013, and it has become aware of 3,000 victims who have collectively paid over $14 million as a result of scams.
Keep these tips in mind regarding IRS correspondence:
- It will not call to demand immediate payment, nor will it call about taxes owed prior to having mailed a bill.
- It will not demand that the taxes be paid without giving the taxpayer an opportunity to question or appeal the amount it states that you owe.
- It will not require a taxpayer to use a specific payment method for taxes, such as a prepaid debit card.
- It will never ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone, and
- It will not threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have taxpayers arrested for not making payments.
A taxpayer receiving a call, email or text message that contains any of these items should immediately report the contact to the IRS, TIGTA and/or the Federal Trade Commission.
