We are coming up on tax season. There will be several new IRS Imposter Scams. So, prepare yourself.
Here’s how the scams may work:
- You get a call from someone who says he’s from the IRS and that you owe back taxes. He threatens to sue you, arrest or deport you, or revoke your license if you don’t pay right away. He tells you to put money on a prepaid debit card and give him the card numbers.
- The caller may know some of your Social Security number. And your caller ID might show a Washington, DC area code. But is it really the IRS calling? NO!
- The real IRS won’t ask you to pay with a prepaid debit card or wire transfers. They won’t ask for a credit card over the phone. And when the IRS first contacts you about unpaid taxes, they do it by mail, not by phone. Also, caller IDs can be faked.
Here’s what you can do:
- Stop. Don’t wire money or pay with a prepaid debit card. Once you send it, the money is gone. If you have tax questions, go to IRS.gov or call the IRS at 800-829-1040.
- If you spot a scam, please report it to the Federal Trade Commission.
• Call the FTC at 1-877-382-4357 or TTY 1-866-653-4261
• Go online: FTC.gov/complaint
i. Your complaint can help protect other people. By filing a complaint, you can help the FTC’s investigators identify the imposters and stop them before they can get someone’s hard-earned money.
