By: Mitch Columbe, WKVI
Telephone scam artists pretending to be with the IRS call claiming you owe money or have a refund trying to trick you into releasing important information. They may know a lot about you, and they usually alter the caller ID to make it look like the IRS is calling. Fake names and incorrect identification badge numbers are given to make you think they are who they say they are.
The IRS reminds people that they can easily detect when a supposed IRS caller is a fake. There are five things the scammers often do but the IRS will not. They may call you about taxes you owe without first mailing you an official notice. They may also demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe. They may ask for your credit or debit card number over the phone or require you to use a specific payment method. They may also threaten to bring in local police or other law enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying. It is also good to note that the IRS does not use email, text messages or any social media to discuss your personal tax issue. If you think you are being called by a scammer feel free to report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for tax administration at 1-800-366-4484 or at www.tigta.gov. Also contact the Federal Trade Commission and use their “FTC Complaint Assistant” at FTC.gov. Additional information about tax scams are available on IRS social media sites, including YouTube.
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