Taxpayers are being warned by the Treasury Inspector General for Taxpayer Administration (TIGTA) about a group of tax scams that has proven to be extremely aggressive, very widespread, and extremely relentless. Callers claim to be IRS employees, and they tell their intended victims that they owe taxes that must be paid immediately using a prepaid debit card or wire transfer. If the intended victim refuses to pay, the phony IRS agents threaten them with arrest, deportation, or loss of a business or driver’s license. These scammers have been operating in every state in the country.
Taxpayers should be aware of these facts:
* Use of an automated robocall machine.
* Caller provides a fake IRS badge number.
* Caller knows last four digits of victim’s social security number.
* Caller ID is altered to appear as if the IRS is the caller.
* A phony IRS e-mail is sent supporting the scammer’s claims.
* Follow-up calls are made claiming to be from the police department or motor vehicle licensing office, with caller ID again supporting their claim.
If you are a victim of one of these IRS scams, complete the “IRS Impersonation Scam Form” on TIGTA’s website, or call TIGTA at 800-366-4484.