IRS Impersonation Scams
Fraud Alerts
As the name suggests, impersonation scams involve any type of fraud attempt where someone pretends to be someone they are not. There are several variations of this type of scam, including fraudsters who pretend to represent someone from a government agency, sometimes the IRS.
The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) says that IRS impersonation scams are one of the largest, most pervasive types of fraud in the country, resulting in millions of victims and dollars lost. In this type of scam, an impersonator will pretend to work for the IRS or another law enforcement agency. Victims are told that they owe taxes and must pay or face serious consequences, including arrest, suspension of a business or driver’s license, or even deportation.
Fraudsters often use spoof caller information to appear legitimate or deploy sophisticated emails and text messages purporting to be an official government agency. Scammers often prey on vulnerable targets, like the elderly, but anyone is subject to this type of fraud.
How to Detect IRS Impersonation Scams
- The IRS will never call and demand immediate payment. If you receive a request to take urgent action to avoid serious consequences - whether related to taxes or not - be mindful that it is likely a scam. It is important to resist the urge to act quickly and instead take the time to verify the person’s identity.
- Additionally, the IRS will never demand that payment be made through a specific method, like a prepaid debit card, gift card, or transfer. The IRS must always provide taxpayers the opportunity to question or appeal any issue, so a request for immediate payment is an instant red flag that something is amiss.
- Be wary if you are told that the local police will be notified or that you may be involved in a lawsuit. The IRS does not use either as a threat to encourage action.
- Most importantly, the IRS will never contact you by email, text message, or social media, and will also never ask you to share personal information online. As with all types of scams, common hallmarks include misspellings, missing words, and incorrect grammar.