Online Threat Alerts (OTA) - Alerting you to scams and frauds.

Back Taxes Scam Call and Confidence Trick
Back Taxes Scam Call and Confidence Trick

Scammers are calling potential victims pretending to be IRS officials to get their money. They'll call, email, or text potential victims claiming they owe back taxes or there's a problem with their tax return. They even rig caller ID to make their calls look official. They play on potential victims' fears. They threatened to take their driver's license or sue, arrest, or deport them. Once they have gained their potential victims' trust, they ask them to pay fast.

What's the truth? The truth is the IRS's first contact with you will always be a letter in the mail. It's not a phone call, email, or text message. They won't insist that you pay with a prepaid debit card, a wire transfers, or cashier's check. Now you know. Has an IRS impostor contacted you? Report it at FTC.gov/impostors.

The IRS will never:

  • Call to demand immediate payment using a specific payment method such as a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer. Generally, the IRS will first mail a bill to any taxpayer who owes taxes.
  • Threaten to immediately bring in local police or other law enforcement groups to have the taxpayer arrested for not paying.
  • Demand that taxes be paid without giving taxpayers the opportunity to question or appeal the amount owed.
  • Call unexpectedly about a tax refund.

Taxpayers who receive these phone calls should:

  • Record the number and then hang up the phone immediately.
  • Report the call to TIGTA using their IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting form or by calling 800-366-4484.
  • Report the number to phishing@irs.gov and be sure to put "IRS Phone Scam" in the subject line.
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