Tax Fraud Scams
You are contacted by an imposter; IRS, Medicare etc. and you unwittingly share your information, giving access to your credit by the criminals. The IRS will not call you. If you are not sure. Hang up, look up the number independently and call back.
Scammers will call claiming that they are IRS agents and say that you owe back taxes. If you do not pay immediately, they will have you arrested. Something that will not be done. Ever. They ask for government approved gift cards. They will ask for those card numbers over the phone. Quite often they require you to stay on the phone while you drive to the store to purchase the cards. They will also ask00 for your bank account number or credit card number.
The suspects will normally try to rush you into doing what they say. You will always have time to call or write the IRS. Do not feel rushed.
Assume all calls and emails from the IRS are fraud. Always say that you never respond to unsolicited calls. Hang up and call a number which you look up.
Be skeptical about tax preparer. Never hirer a tax preparer who charges by the amount of your return. All tax preparers should have a number issued by the IRS.
Suspend your Social Security Number
Scammers have called claiming that they are suspending your Social Security Number. This is a fraud Hang Up!
IRS Impersonation Emails
Phishing scams are a common tactic among cyber thieves, and they’re not limited to tax-related scams. However, one common tactic this tax season is to send very legitimate-looking emails that appear to be from the IRS. They may contain the subject line “Automatic Income Tax Reminder” or “Electronic Tax Return Reminder.” They’ll have links to a website that looks like the IRS site and will offer you a temporary password to access files for your tax refund.
Taxpayer Advocate Service
This Scam involves the scammers claim to be from the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS). This is the name of a legitimate, independent organization within the IRS. However, like the IRS itself, TAS does not initiate phone calls to taxpayers; you contact them first. These scammers may be demanding payment or may claim you have a refund waiting for you. They try to get personal information from you, and you should never provide it. Hang Up look up the number and then call the TAS.
Remember, the IRS will never contact you via email. Do not open emails from anyone claiming to be form the IRS, and certainly don’t click on links or download files from these emails.
Taxpayer assistance program is available from the IRS.
Contact IRS and advise them that you did not receive that income.
AARP Fraud Fighter 877-908-3360
Check your credit with one of the three credit reporting agencies.
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-scams-consumer-alerts
Scammers will call claiming that they are IRS agents and say that you owe back taxes. If you do not pay immediately, they will have you arrested. Something that will not be done. Ever. They ask for government approved gift cards. They will ask for those card numbers over the phone. Quite often they require you to stay on the phone while you drive to the store to purchase the cards. They will also ask00 for your bank account number or credit card number.
The suspects will normally try to rush you into doing what they say. You will always have time to call or write the IRS. Do not feel rushed.
Assume all calls and emails from the IRS are fraud. Always say that you never respond to unsolicited calls. Hang up and call a number which you look up.
Be skeptical about tax preparer. Never hirer a tax preparer who charges by the amount of your return. All tax preparers should have a number issued by the IRS.
Suspend your Social Security Number
Scammers have called claiming that they are suspending your Social Security Number. This is a fraud Hang Up!
IRS Impersonation Emails
Phishing scams are a common tactic among cyber thieves, and they’re not limited to tax-related scams. However, one common tactic this tax season is to send very legitimate-looking emails that appear to be from the IRS. They may contain the subject line “Automatic Income Tax Reminder” or “Electronic Tax Return Reminder.” They’ll have links to a website that looks like the IRS site and will offer you a temporary password to access files for your tax refund.
Taxpayer Advocate Service
This Scam involves the scammers claim to be from the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS). This is the name of a legitimate, independent organization within the IRS. However, like the IRS itself, TAS does not initiate phone calls to taxpayers; you contact them first. These scammers may be demanding payment or may claim you have a refund waiting for you. They try to get personal information from you, and you should never provide it. Hang Up look up the number and then call the TAS.
Remember, the IRS will never contact you via email. Do not open emails from anyone claiming to be form the IRS, and certainly don’t click on links or download files from these emails.
Taxpayer assistance program is available from the IRS.
Contact IRS and advise them that you did not receive that income.
AARP Fraud Fighter 877-908-3360
Check your credit with one of the three credit reporting agencies.
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-scams-consumer-alerts
IRS Energy Rebate Scam
Recently, it has been reported that several Seminole County, Florida residents have been receiving phone calls from someone posing as an IRS agent claiming that they may be eligible to receive an energy rebate check. According to the caller, in order to receive the rebate, the caller must provide the following information: social security number, bank account information and or credit card number. Although, Seminole County has not identified any victims of this scam at this time, all residents should be aware that this is a scam and not give any personal information out to anyone soliciting through this type of phone call. Seminole County residents should not confuse this scam with a legitimate tax savings program through the IRS called the Nonbusiness Energy Property Credit. Those who make energy efficient improvements to their homes may obtain tax savings through the IRS as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. However, the IRS will not call regarding this property credit. Information on the Nonbusiness Energy Property Credit may be obtained by clicking here.
The IRS also provides the following additional tips:
The IRS does not send taxpayers unsolicited e-mails or about their tax accounts, tax situations or personal tax issues. If you receive such an e-mail, most likely it's a scam. IRS impersonation schemes flourish during filing season. These schemes may take place via phone, fax, Internet sites, social networking sites and particularly e-mail. Many impersonations are identity theft scams that try to trick victims into revealing personal and financial information that can be used to access their financial accounts. Some e-mail scams contain attachments or links that, when clicked, download malicious code (virus) that infects your computer or direct you to a bogus form or site posing as a genuine IRS form or Web site. Some impersonations may be commercial Internet sites that consumers unknowingly visit, thinking they're accessing the genuine IRS Web site, IRS.gov. However, such sites have no connection to the IRS.
For more information on scams and what to do if you're subject to one:
To Report Fraud
For other than phishing schemes, you may report the fraudulent misuse of the IRS name, logo, forms or other IRS property by calling the TIGTA toll-free hotline at 1-800-366-4484 or visiting the TIGTA Web site.
The IRS also provides the following additional tips:
The IRS does not send taxpayers unsolicited e-mails or about their tax accounts, tax situations or personal tax issues. If you receive such an e-mail, most likely it's a scam. IRS impersonation schemes flourish during filing season. These schemes may take place via phone, fax, Internet sites, social networking sites and particularly e-mail. Many impersonations are identity theft scams that try to trick victims into revealing personal and financial information that can be used to access their financial accounts. Some e-mail scams contain attachments or links that, when clicked, download malicious code (virus) that infects your computer or direct you to a bogus form or site posing as a genuine IRS form or Web site. Some impersonations may be commercial Internet sites that consumers unknowingly visit, thinking they're accessing the genuine IRS Web site, IRS.gov. However, such sites have no connection to the IRS.
For more information on scams and what to do if you're subject to one:
- Online Scams that Impersonate the IRS.
- Suspicious e-Mails and Identity Theft.
- How to Report and Identify Phishing, E-mail Scams and Bogus IRS Web Sites.
To Report Fraud
For other than phishing schemes, you may report the fraudulent misuse of the IRS name, logo, forms or other IRS property by calling the TIGTA toll-free hotline at 1-800-366-4484 or visiting the TIGTA Web site.