“IRS Verification” Scam

There’s never a “safe time” from scammers, but some scams ramp up throughout the year.

Who Is It Targeting: Taxpayers

What Is It: Phone scams regarding taxes

What Are They After: Tax scams are a constant plague, but this is the time of year when things really ramp up. Criminals know that most taxpayers have just put tax season behind them, and therefore you’re quite likely to pay attention if someone pretends to call you from the IRS.

Tax scammers use a wide variety of tactics to steal your money and info. You might be asked to verify your information for them (which means telling them all of your data), or you might be threatened with criminal consequences for failing to pay your taxes.

How Can You Avoid It:

• The IRS has a formal process for reaching out to the taxpayers, and it’s not by phone.
• Never give your information to someone who calls you or emails you.
• You are never required to make an immediate payment over the phone or make a payment via an untraceable payment method like gift cards or wire transfers.

If you think you may be a victim of identity theft, contact the Identity Theft Resource Center for toll-free, no-cost assistance at (888) 400-5530. Find more information about current scams and alerts here. For full details of this scam check out this article from 41NBC.com.