This tax season, the IRS expects an uptick in tax-related scams. In most cases, IRS “phishing” scams are bogus phone calls and emails that claim to come from the IRS. Fraudsters use fake refunds or threats of a tax bill or audit to convince recipients to give up their personal and financial information. They then use it to steal a victim’s money or identity. The IRS has the following tips:
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• Fraudsters may know a lot about you when they call and may be able to spoof your caller ID to show that they are calling from an official number. Don’t be fooled.
• If you don’t answer the phone, they may leave an urgent callback request.
• If you receive a call that you think might be from the IRS, take down the agent’s information and call them back at the official IRS hotline: 1-800-829-1040.
Remember, the IRS will never:
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• Call you without mailing an official notice first.
• Demand that you immediately pay your taxes over the phone.
• Take a debit or credit card number over the phone.
• Threaten to call law enforcement or immigration services to arrest you for failure to pay.
* This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax professional.
Tip adapted from IRS.gov[7]
[7] www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-scams-consumer-alerts
