A Free Public Service

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County, California.

March 22, 2021

TAX IMPOSTER SCAM

Some brazen scammers rip off unwary taxpayers by impersonating agents of the Internal Revenue Service. They may call and insist that you have an unpaid tax bill and face arrest unless you pay up immediately.

Con artists have numerous ways to make the hoax seem convincing. They can trick a caller ID to make it appear that the call is coming from an IRS office. They may even know part of your Social Security number.

The IRS says scammers are increasingly turning to robocalls to reach as many potential victims as possible. Their ruses have become more elaborate, with some citing a nonexistent “federal student tax” that they claim their targets have neglected to pay.

You can guard against the phony tax collectors by following some basic precautions:

The IRS communicates mostly through the US mail, including in cases of delinquent taxes. It will generally make contact by phone or in person only after a taxpayer has received multiple written notices.

A phony IRS official may demand immediate payment, threaten to call police and have you arrested — things the IRS never does.

Do’s

Do hang up immediately if you suspect the caller is a phony.

Do forward any unsolicited emails in which someone claims to be from the IRS or the Treasury Department to phishing@irs.gov.

Do consider filing a fraud alert or freezing your credit with the three major credit-reporting bureaus if a scammer knows part of your Social Security number.

Do ask for identification if you are visited by someone claiming to be from the IRS. Actual employees carry two official credentials: a “pocket commission” and an HSPD-12 card, a standard ID for federal workers. An IRS employee will provide, on request, a dedicated agency phone number for you to verify the information on the card.

Don’ts

Don’t provide or confirm personal or financial information over the phone to someone who claims to be a government official.

Don’t respond to a purported IRS email or text message asking for your information. The IRS doesn’t do that.

Don’t agree to pay a tax bill with a prepaid debit card or wire transfer. Scammers prefer these methods because they’re difficult to trace and can be used almost anywhere.

Don’t give credit or debit card numbers to a caller claiming to be an IRS official. The IRS says it never asks for such information over the phone.

Don’t assume a caller who tells you to verify his or her phone number by checking the IRS website is on the level. Caller IDs can be rigged to display the number of a real IRS office.

Don’t be bullied. A scammer will issue threats and demands, but according to the IRS, if you owe back taxes, you will get a bill in the mail and have an opportunity to appeal or to question the amount.

Do not click on any links or open any attachments.

If you have witnessed this scam, or know others who have, call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline: 877-908-3360.

You can report it to the US Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov.

ATTRIBUTON: AARP.org