Tax identity theft is the theme of the week, but it’s not the only tax scam we’re talking about. Complaints to the FTC about IRS imposter scams have shot up over the last year — by almost 50,000 complaints.
Here’s what happens: You get a call from a scammer pretending to be with the IRS, saying you’ll be arrested if you don’t pay taxes you owe right now. You’re told to wire it or put it on a prepaid debit card. They might threaten to deport you or say you’ll lose your driver’s license. Some even know your Social Security number, and they fake caller ID so you think it really is the IRS calling.
But it’s all a lie. If you send the money, it’s gone.
When you have a tax problem, the IRS will first contact you by mail. The IRS won’t ask you to wire money, pay with a prepaid debit card, or share your credit card information over the phone.
If you get a call like this, file a complaint with the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at tigta.gov. You also can file a complaint with the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint. If you’re concerned there’s a real problem, call the IRS directly at 800-829-1040.
Yes it's a scam. I got the same call today and when I told them I'm calling the Irs to verify they yelled at me and said no you don't need to and that they were sending the police to my home within 30 minutes. I filed a complaint with the treasury department.
Received a call and called back to give them a piece of my mind. Got a recording that the IRS is suing me and to call this number back immediately. I called the number back and got a busy signal. I know that I do not have an IRS problem but wanted to hassle them a bit.
I just called that number because they have been harassing my mother for one year saying that they are the IRS and are suing her. When the person answered the phone, it was a fake business name (not the IRS)!! He wasn't even from this country and when I told him that I am going to my congressmen and going to have the number traced and hopefully will get INTERPOL involved to take their fraudulent business down, the man (sounded like he had a western accent) said that he did not understand what I was saying. I asked him if he was even from the USA and he stuttered over himself trying to think of something to say. Get a hold of your congressmen/women and lets this this shut down for good!!! The people that they are targeting are on fixed incomes and don't owe the IRS anything!!!