The IRS has recently published an article regarding a sophisticated phone scam targeting individual taxpayers and employers. As the article notes, the callers claim to be IRS employees, using fake names and IRS identification badge numbers. They also may already know a lot about their targets, and they usually alter the caller ID to make it look like the IRS is calling.
A few of the tactics that the scammers are using include:
- Victims are told they owe money to the IRS that must be paid promptly through a gift card or wire transfer.
- Victims may be threatened with arrest, deportation, or suspension of a business or driver’s license.
- The caller may become hostile and insulting.
- Victims may be told they have a refund due to try to trick them into sharing private information.
- If the phone isn't answered, the scammers often leave an “urgent” callback request.
Be aware that scammers are constantly attempting to trick taxpayers and employers into providing personally identifiable information, including names, Social Security numbers, and filing status.
The full IRS article can be viewed here and includes guidance on how to contact the IRS if you are aware of suspicious activity.
If you have additional questions, contact us at info@gtn.com or at +1.888.486.2695.
The information provided above is for general guidance only and should not be utilized in lieu of obtaining professional tax and/or legal advice.
