The IRS Is Warning the Public About a Phone Scam that Targets People Across the Nation

Callers claiming to be from the IRS tell intended victims they owe taxes and must pay using a pre-paid debit card or wire transfer.  The scammers threaten those who refuse to pay with arrest, deportation or loss of a business or driver’s license.

The callers who commit this fraud often:

• Use common names and fake IRS badge numbers.
• Know the last four digits of the victim’s Social Security number.
• Make caller ID appear as if the IRS is calling.
• Send bogus IRS emails to support their scam.
• Call a second time claiming to be the police or DMV, and caller ID again supports their claim.

The truth is the IRS usually first contacts people by mail – not by phone – about unpaid taxes.  The IRS will never ask for payment using a pre-paid debit card or wire transfer.  The agency also won’t ask for a credit card number over the phone.

If you get a call from someone claiming to be with the IRS asking for a payment, here’s what to do:

• You can report the incident by making a call to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 800-366-4484.
• You can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at FTC.gov.  If you file a claim through the FTC.gov website, make sure to include “IRS Telephone Scam” in the comments of your complaint.
• You can forward scam emails to [email protected]. If you receive a suspicious email of this type, don’t open any attachments or click on any links in the email.

Be alert for phone and email scams that use the IRS name.  The IRS will never request personal or financial information by email, texting or any social media.