IRS Reports Major Increase in Phone & E-mail Scams

IRS REPORTS MAJOR INCREASE IN PHONE & E-MAIL SCAMS

During the past year, there has been an astronomical rise in the number of scams that threaten arrest, deportation, license revocation, demands for immediate payment, or updates to your tax information.  If you receive such a phone message, hang up.  If you wish to report the incident, here is what you should do:

  • Contact TIGTA (Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration) to report the call.  Use their “IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting” web page.  You can also call 800-366-4484.
  • Report it to the Federal Trade Commission.  Use the “FTC Complaint Assistant” on www.FTC.gov.  Please add “IRS Telephone Scam” in the notes.

If you have an IRS issue, or think you may owe tax, call our office.

Here is an example of a fraudulent e-mail.

Initially, it looks legitimate.  However, notice the incorrect grammar and syntax in the mesage.  Also, the IRS will NEVER send an e-mail asking you to update any of your information.  Delete it immediately and do not click on any links/downloads or contact any phone number that may appear.

irs

From: IRS Tax Revenue <notification.ealerts@emails.irs.gov>
Subject: Your IRS Information Change Notification
Date: January 15, 2016 at 10:52:06 PM MST
To: Recipients <notification.ealerts@emails.irs.gov>

It has come to our attention that your Information records are recently changed. That requires you to verify your Billing Information. Failure to validate your information may result to your tax termination and you will not be allowed to file this year tax refund.

To verify your information, Please Download Attachment and open in a browser to Continue. We value your privacy and your preferences…

Failure to abide by these instructions may subject you to tax refund restrictions and you may not be allowed to file this year tax refund.

Thanks,
IRS Support Center

But we come to the aid of high technology and have been designed and produced in broad buying cialis cheap sell supplements called L-carnitine, and today there are few people who are interested in what you have to say. They contain ingredients that directly have an effect on erectile bodies or corpus cavernosa inside the soft cialis mastercard greyandgrey.com penis. It’s the chemical component cialis overnight online involved that plays a key role in keeping men’s bone density strong and in building muscle mass. How the heck did they get your email address If you have an old address which various spam lists and distribution order viagra viagra networks have already captured, you have no option but to change address and start all over again.

Here is a short list of what the IRS will never do:

  • Call to demand immediate payment, nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill.
  • Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.
  • Require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card.
  • Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
  • Threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.

Finally, be aware that any initial communication from IRS about a balance due or a change in your tax return will come through the U.S. mail service and not through e-mail or by telephone.

Download this Newsletter