Mark O. Neumeister
Aug 9, 2024
It’s scary enough to receive contact from a taxing authority such as IRS or OTC. But beware of the growing tax scams that target us by pretending to be government officials. The fake tax man hopes to extract personal information and money from unsuspecting targets.
Anyone could be a target of a fake tax man, but these scams tend to target older adults. The IRS has identified trends showing increasing activity that targets unsuspecting individuals by pretending to be IRS agents. The targets are pressured into making payments under some pretense of urgency. Often requesting payment through unorthodox methods such as gift cards or wire transfers.
These fake tax impersonators use advanced techniques to establish credibility, including the manipulation of caller IDs to appear legitimate. Often the scammers pose as representatives from government agencies, such as IRS, Social Security Administration, Medicare and others. Scammers frequently fabricate urgent scenarios, such as outstanding tax debt. With that fabricated urgency, the scammers will insist on immediate action without allowing time for reflection.
The IRS and most taxing authorities will inform you by mail if there is an issue. They are not likely to initiate a matter by phone, email, or text. If you receive such a message, be wary of returning a call using the number provided or the one displayed on caller ID. You can contact IRS customer service for verification at (800) 829-1040. You can also check your account details by setting up a secure account at IRS.gov.
If you receive a suspect contact, please report that contact by visiting the Hotline page of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and using the IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting form or by calling (800) 366-4484.
Remember these key points:
- The IRS will never demand immediate payment via prepaid debt cards, gift cards or wire transfers. Typically, if taxes are owed, the IRS will send a bill by mail first.
- The IRS will never threaten to involve local police or other law enforcement agencies.
- The IRS will never demand payment without allowing opportunities to dispute or appeal the amount owed.
- The IRS will never request credit, debit or gift card numbers over the phone.
Remaining vigilant and informed about these types of scams can help protect us all from financial loss and identity theft. Please, be cautious, especially when dealing with unsolicited communications concerning taxes.
The U.S. Department of Justice has established the National Elder Fraud Hotline to address targeting of elderly Americans. If an individual has fallen victim to elder fraud, they can contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at (833) FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311).