Original Article: IRS (https://www.irs.gov/uac/tax-scams-consumer-alerts)
In recent years, thousands of people have lost millions of dollars and their personal information to tax scams and fake IRS communication. Scammers use the regular mail, telephone, fax or email to set up their victims. This page looks at the different scams affecting individuals, businesses, and tax professionals and what do if you spot a tax scam.
REMEMBER: The IRS doesn’t initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text messages or social media channels to request personal or financial information. Be cautious of new and evolving schemes this summer and always keep in mind that the IRS does not threaten taxpayers with lawsuits, imprisonment or other enforcement action. Recognizing these telltale signs of a phishing or tax scam could save you from becoming a victim. See also: How to know it’s really the IRS calling or knocking on your door
Scammers are constantly changing tactics to carry out crimes in new ways.
Scams Targeting Taxpayers
IRS-Impersonation Telephone Scams
Beware of a new scam linked to the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), where fraudsters call to demand an immediate tax payment through a prepaid debit card. In the latest twist, the scammer claims to be from the IRS and tells the victim about two certified letters purportedly sent to the taxpayer in the mail but returned as undeliverable. The scam artist then threatens arrest if a payment is not made through a prepaid debit card. The scammer also tells the victim that the card is linked to the EFTPS when, in fact, it is entirely controlled by the scammer. The victim is also warned not to contact their tax preparer, an attorney or their local IRS office until after the tax payment is made.
There is an aggressive phone scam targeting taxpayers with limited English proficiency making the rounds. Callers claim to be employees of the IRS. They may know a lot about their targets, and they usually alter the caller ID to make it look like the IRS is calling. Here too victims are told they owe taxes and must pay promptly through a pre-loaded debit card or wire transfer. Victims may be threatened with arrest, deportation or suspension of a business or driver’s license. In many cases, the caller becomes hostile and insulting. In some instances victims may be told they have a refund due to trick them into sharing private information. If the phone isn’t answered, the scammers often leave an “urgent” callback request.
Remember: Scammers Change Tactics — Aggressive and threatening phone calls by criminals impersonating IRS agents remain a major threat to taxpayers, but variations of the IRS impersonation scam continue year-round and they tend to peak when scammers find prime opportunities to strike. Note that the IRS will never:
- Call to demand immediate payment using a specific payment method such as a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer. Generally, the IRS will first mail you a bill if you owe any taxes.
- Threaten to immediately bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.
- Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.
- Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
Soliciting Form W-2 information from payroll and human resources professionals.The IRS has established a process that will allow businesses and payroll service providers to quickly report any data losses related to the W-2 scam currently making the rounds. See details at Form W2/SSN Data Theft: Information for Businesses and Payroll Service Providers. If notified in time, the IRS can take steps to prevent employees from being victimized by identity thieves filing fraudulent returns in their names. There also is information about how to report receiving the scam email.
Employers and tax professionals should notify states of any disclosures of W-2s or other identity information by emailing [email protected].
As a reminder, tax professionals who experience a data breach also should quickly report the incident to the IRS. See details at Data Theft Information for Tax Professionals.
Also see:
- IRS, States and Tax Industry Renew Alert about Form W-2 Scam Targeting Payroll, Human Resource Departments
- IRS Alerts Payroll and HR Professionals to Phishing Scheme Involving W-2s
Surge in Email, Phishing and Malware Schemes
When identity theft takes place over the web (email), it is called phishing. The IRS saw an approximate 400 percent surge in phishing and malware incidents in the 2016 tax season.
The IRS has issued several alerts about the fraudulent use of the IRS name or logo by scammers trying to gain access to consumers’ financial information to steal their identity and assets.
Scam emails are designed to trick taxpayers into thinking these are official communications from the IRS or others in the tax industry, including tax software companies. These phishing schemes may seek information related to refunds, filing status, confirming personal information, ordering transcripts and verifying PIN information.
Variations of these scams can be seen via text messages. The IRS is aware of email phishing scams that include links to bogus web sites intended to mirror the official IRS web site. These emails contain the direction “you are to update your IRS e-file immediately.” The emails mention USA.gov and IRSgov (without a dot between “IRS” and “gov”), though not IRS.gov (with a dot). These emails are not from the IRS.
The sites may ask for information used to file false tax returns or they may carry malware, which can infect computers and allow criminals to access your files or track your keystrokes to gain information.
For more details, see:
- IRS Warns Seniors to Beware of Calls by Criminals Impersonating the IRS
- Phishing Remains on the IRS “Dirty Dozen” List of Tax Scams for the 2017 Filing Season
Unsolicited email claiming to be from the IRS, or from a related component such as EFTPS, should be reported to the IRS at [email protected]. For more information, visit the IRS’s Report Phishingweb page.
Other Recent Tax Scams
- Consumer Alert: Scammers Change Tactics, Once Again
- Tax Scams via Video Relay Service
- IRS Alerts Taxpayers with Limited English Proficiency of Ongoing Phone Scams
- IRS, States and Tax Industry Warn of Last-Minute Email Scams
- IRS Warns of Latest Scam Variation Involving Bogus “Federal Student Tax”
- IRS Warns Taxpayers of Summer Surge in Automated Phone Scam Calls; Requests for Fake Tax Payments Using iTunes Gift Cards
How to Report Tax-Related Schemes, Scams, Identity Theft and Fraud
To report tax-related illegal activities, refer to our chart explaining the types of activity and the appropriate forms or other methods to use. You should also report instances of IRS-related phishing attempts and fraud to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 800-366-4484.
Additional Scam-Related Information:
- Security Summit – Learn more about how the IRS, representatives of the software industry, tax preparation firms, payroll and tax financial product processors and state tax administrators are working together to combat identity theft and refund fraud.
- Taxes. Security. Together. We all have a role to play in protecting your data
- IRS Security Awareness Tax Tips
- Tax Scams — How to Report Them
- Criminal Investigation’s Tax Fraud Alerts
- State ID Theft Resources – State information on what to do if you or your employees are victims of identity theft.
- IRS Dirty Dozen – The annually compiled list enumerates a variety of common scams that taxpayers may encounter.
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