IRS warning taxpayers about e-mail and phone scams

FOX44, WASHINGTON, D.C. Jun 02, 2018 06:27 PM 

The Internal Revenue Service would like the public to be on guard for various summer scams. 

Tax season is over, but that won't stop scammers from trying to get your Social Security numbers, account information or passwords.

Taxpayers are typically waiting to hear from the IRS at this time of year and the tax collecting organization said that anyone who receives what they believe is a scam call, "should hang up and initiate correspondence with the agency that is purportedly inquiring about their account using a well-known phone number or email address."

The IRS provided helpful information about phone scams, e-mail phishing scams and telltale signs that someone is trying to scam you,

Phone scams:

The IRS does not call and leave pre-recorded, urgent messages asking for a call back. In this tactic, the victim is told if they do not call back, a warrant will be issued for their arrest. Other variations may include threat of other law-enforcement agency intervention, deportation or revocation of licenses.
Criminals are able to fake or “spoof” caller ID numbers to appear to be anywhere in the country, including from an IRS office. This prevents taxpayers from being able to verify the true call number. Fraudsters also have spoofed local sheriff’s offices, state Department of Motor Vehicles, federal agencies and others to convince taxpayers the call is legitimate.
Email phishing scams:

If a taxpayer receives an unsolicited email that appears to be from either the IRS or a program closely linked to the IRS, such as the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), report it by sending it to phishing@irs.gov. Learn more by going to the Report Phishing and Online Scams page.
The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email to request personal or financial information. The IRS initiates most contacts through regular mail delivered by the United States Postal Service. However, there are special circumstances in which the IRS will call or come to a home or business, such as when a taxpayer has an overdue tax bill, to secure a delinquent tax return or a delinquent employment tax payment, or to tour a business as part of an audit or during criminal investigations.
Telltale signs of a scam:

The IRS (and its authorized private collection agencies) will never:
Call to demand immediate payment using a specific payment method such as a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer. The IRS does not use these methods for tax payments. Generally, the IRS will first mail a bill to any taxpayer who owes taxes. All tax payments should only be made payable to the U.S. Treasury and checks should never be made payable to third parties.
Threaten to immediately bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have the taxpayer arrested for not paying.
Demand that taxes be paid without giving the taxpayer the opportunity to question or appeal the amount owed.
Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
The IRS said, "if in doubt, don’t give it out."

Reference

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