Tax Scams

Complaints to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) about Internal Revenue Service (IRS) imposter scams have increased over the last year.

Report this scam to:

 

Here's what happens:

  • You get a call from a scammer pretending to be with the IRS, saying you'll be arrested, deported or you will lose your driver's license if you don't pay taxes you owe right now.
  • You're told to wire the money or put the money on a prepaid debit card.
  • The caller may have a heavy foreign accent.
  • They may use common names and fake badge numbers.
  • The fake IRS agents sometimes turn hostile during the call and may even use threatening language, which an IRS employee would never do.
  • Some can provide your social security number and have a fake caller ID.

 

Warning signs:

  • The first contact with the IRS will not be a call from out of the blue or by email, but through official correspondence sent through the US Postal Service.
  • No employee from the IRS will threaten you.
  • The IRS will not ask you to wire money, pay with a prepaid debit card, or share your credit card information over the phone.  The IRS does not demand that taxpayers use a specific payment method, like a prepaid card, when paying owed taxes.

 

What you should do:

  • Don't give the caller any information such as your financial or other personal information.
  • Write down details such as the number and name of the caller.
  • Hang up.