| According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers reported losing $2.6 billion to impostor scams in 2022. One of the longest running impostor scams involves the IRS, so tax time is a good time to draw attention to it. |
| How It Works• You receive a phone call, text or email that claims to be from the IRS saying you owe back taxes and must make immediate payment or face arrest.•The communication will include a request to pay your supposed obligation by wire transfer or by purchasing gift cards and sharing the numbers off the back.•Or it’s good news from the IRS: You have a refund coming to you which you can claim by clicking a link and sharing information. What You Should Know• Most IRS impostor scams begin as a robocall with the message directing you either to press a number on your keypad to talk with a live agent or to call back using the number provided.•Scammers can alter caller ID to make it appear a call is coming from anywhere they choose, even the IRS.•The real IRS initiates communication by mail, including in cases of delinquent taxes. The agency may contact you by phone only after you have received and not responded to multiple written notices.•The IRS never initiates communication by email or text.•No federal agency accepts payment for any obligation by wire transfer or gift card. In 100% of these scenarios, it is a scam. What You Should Do• If you get a call claiming to be from the IRS, hang up—or better yet, don’t pick up the call to begin with.•If you think you may owe taxes, call the IRS at 800-829-1040 or visit irs.gov/balancedue.•Know that beyond IRS impostors, tax ID fraud is still a problem. Consider obtaining an IRS identity protection PIN. The IP PIN is known only to you and the IRS, and your return cannot be processed without it. |